Darlington
were granted in 1974
The old Borough of Darlington was granted arms and crest in 1960, and
supporters in 1967. The Rural District Council received arms and crest
in 1959, and the 1974 arms contain most of the components from the old
councils' bearings.
The blue and red colours of the field come from the arms of the Borough and Rural District respectively. Saint Cuthbert's cross recalls the legend of the monks of Lindisfarne, fleeing the Vikings. They brought the relics of Saint Cuthbert with them, and on the spot where the body lay Saint Cuthbert's church was built. Darlington is a market town, hence the inclusion of a garb and a bull's head. The bull represents "Comet", a famous shorthorn bull bred by the pioneering Colling brothers. The chevron with blue wave shows the River Tees which flows through the district. The chief shows "Locomotion", the first locomotive of the first passenger railway in the World, The Stockton and Darlington.
The crest is identical to that granted to the old Borough in 1960, except for the addition of a mural crown and grassy mount. The two white lions are from from the arms of the See (and County) of Durham, supporting a civic mace, thus showing a County Durham Borough.
In 1967 Darlington celebrated the centenary of its incorporation, and
Queen Elizabeth II granted supporters during a visit to the town. In the
1974 arms, the same supporters were granted, but swapped to opposite sides
of the shield.
The dexter supporter is a gold crowned English lion, commemorating the
Queen's visit. The sinister supporter is a wyvern, with his neck being
severed by a falchion. This refers to the legend of the Sockburn Worm,
a local dragon slain by Sir John Conyers. The manor of Sockburn was granted
to the Conyers family, by William I in reward for this brave deed. When
a new Bishop of Durham is appointed, the Lord of Sockburn must present
him with the Conyers falchion or sword at Croft Bridge. The bishop hands
the sword back for the protection of the manor.
The motto, originally that of the Rural District Council, is OPTIMA PETAMUS,
or "Let us seek the best".
