Last modified: 2020-08-15 by rob raeside
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Slough is one of the smallest unitary authorities in England. It has about 33
km2, with about 170,000 inhabitants.
Slough Urban District Council was
created in 1894 within Buckingham County Council. It became a Municipal Borough
Council in 1938. With the new Local Government Act 1972, in 1974 Slough became
a non-metropolitan district, but very soon it became Slough Borough Council within
Berkshire County Council. In 1998 Slough Borough Council became a unitary
authority, after Berkshire County Council was abolished.
Slough has had two
coat of arms.
image located by Valentin Poposki, 28 July 2020
In 1938 Slough Municipal Borough Council got first coat of arms.
Official blazon
Arms : Per chevron Argent and Gules
in chief two Roses of the last barbed and seeded proper and in base a Swan
holding in the beak a White Pink slipped and leaved also proper on a Chief Azure
the Astronomical Symbol of Uranus irradiated between two Brick-Axes Or.
Supporters : On the dexter side a Figure of Mercury proper vested Argent mantled
Azure and on the sinister side a Figure of Vulcan proper vested Argent holding
in the dexter hand a Pair of Pincers also Argent.
Motto: 'FIDUCIA ET VI' - By
confidence and strength
Origin/meaning
The arms were officially
granted on September 3, 1938.
As in the new arms the swan stands for
Buckinghamshire, the the flowers for the horticulture in the borough.
The
brick-axes refer to the brick-making and the sign of Uranus is from the arms of
the family of Herschel of Slough, and relates to the discovery of the planet
Uranus by Sir William Herschel.
The supporters are the gods Mercury and
Vulcan and symbolize trade and industry.
Valentin Poposki,
28 July 2020
Note that in this depiction of the arms, the symbol of Uranus is incorrectly
depicted: the dot, which should be placed in center of the circle, is missing,
which effectively turns the symbol into an erroneous depiction of the symbol of
Mars (which should be rotated 45 degrees clockwise in order to be depicted
correctly).
Tomislav Todorovic, 29 July 2020
image located by Valentin Poposki, 28 July 2020
After 1974 Slough Borough Council was granted with the new arms:
Official blazon
Arms : Per chevron Or and Gules on Waves barry wavy Argent and Azure a Swan
proper holding in the beak a White Pink slipped and leaved proper the whole
between four Chevronels interlaced Sable on a Chief Azure within an Anulet Or a
Mullet Argent between fourteen like Mullets.
Crest : Rising from a Mural
Coronet proper a Mount Vert thereon in front of an Oak Tree proper fructed Or a
Stag at gaze between two Brick-Axes all Gold.
Motto: 'SERVE WITH HONOUR'
Origin/meaning
The arms were officially granted on ??
The swan is the
symbol for Buckinghamshire, the county in which the district was situated and is
taken from the old borough arms (see below). The swan holds in its beak a flower,
a symbol for the horticultural activities in the district. The interlaces
chevrons (black lines) symbolise the modern technology, especially the
manufacture of alloys.
The chief shows a night sky and a large star
surrounded by a golden ring. The latter symbolises the planet Uranus, which was
discovered by Sir William Herschel, who originated from the district.
The
crest is derived from the arms of Berkshire in which the district is presently
situated. The stag is flanked by two brick axes, symbols for the former brick
making industry in the borough.
https://heraldry-wiki.com/heraldrywiki/index.php?title=Slough
Valentin Poposki, 28 July 2020
Here, Uranus is simply represented as a star, obviously in order to avoid the
erroneous depictions, not only as in the previous arms, but also because beside
this symbol for the planet (⛢, U+26E2), there is also an alternative one
(, U+2645), which might lead to varying depictions of the same blazon without a
proper specification included therein.
Tomislav Todorovic, 29 July 2020
image located by Valentin Poposki,
28 July 2020
I didn't find any mention of the borough flag, until the
flag with the borough arms over the flag of the EU, made in 2018 and used in the
protests thru 2020.
Slough for Europe is a cross-party
group for citizens of Slough who believe that the people need a final say in a
new referendum to avoid a Brexit that harms the economy, opportunities and
lifestyles.
http://sloughforeurope.eu/news/about-slough-europe-logo
Some of the flags bears slogans "Slough for Europe"
https://www.facebook.com/sloughforeurope/photos/a.1810653592321669/2172909452762746
Valentin Poposki,
28 July 2020