Coat of Arms - Cleethorpes

Coat of Arms - Grimsby     Cleethorpes Heritage     

Cleethorpes Borough Council

The Author of "A History of Clee and the Thorpes of Clee" published in 1901, writing of Cleethorpes, states-

"The arms of the township, which were introduced in the form of a seal by the Rev. W. P. Jones, as Chairman of the first Board, and which are now employed as the seal of the District Council are:- Azure three owls in fess proper. Motto "Vigilantes."

Please click on the image to the left to see a larger version.

This would appear to be the only information on record as to the origin of the device which had been used for so many years by the Urban District Council. It is interesting however to note that in Yorke's "Union of Honour" published in 1640, there is contained the arms of the Appleyard family, which are described as "Azure a cheveron or, between 3 owls argent." The author before-mentioned also states "There was a time when you might have described Cleethorpes as being inhabited by Appleyards, Osbornes, Chapmans, and a few others." It seems clear, therefore, that in some way or other the owls from the Appleyard arms crept into the Cleethorpes seal and have remained there to this day.

As, however, the Cleethorpes device was not registered by the College of Arms, it became necessary for a proper grant of arms to be obtained for the new Borough, but unfortunately the College Librarian pointed out that owing to a prior registration it was not possible for arms and crest of identical design to be granted. In the new design an endeavour has been made to retain the main features of the old design as far as possible.

It has also been considered advisable to take advantage of the right of Municipal Boroughs to incorporate supporters in their Coat of Arms. One of such supporters is a Norseman and the other a Fisherman, the latter being a reproduction of the photograph of Levi Stephenson, a former local resident, which has appeared on posters advertising Cleethorpes and in many Guides to Cleethorpes.

The pelican which forms the crest in the new design is a feature in common with the Arms of the Earl of Yarborough - the Lord of the Manor of Cleethorpes - whilst the engrailed bend in the Arms proper, is a feature in common with the Arms of the Sidney Sussex College, the Governing body of which has had such a long connection with the district. 

Cleethorpes Borough Council was the successor of the Cleethorpes with Thrunscoe Urab District Council which was established in 1894 and whose title was changed in 1916 to the Cleethorpes Urban District Council. This Council was granted Borough Status by King Edward VIII in 1936 and was granted Armorial Bearings by the College of Arms in the same year.

The heraldic description of the Coat of Arms is as follows:-

Arms "Argent on a Bend engrailed between two Escallops Azure three Owls Or'."

Crest "On a wreath of colours 'Upon a Rock a Pelican Argent vulning herself Gules and gorged with a Strap also Argent Buckel Or'."

Supporters "On the dexter side a Norseman holding in the exterior hand a shield and on the sinister side a Cleethorpes Fisherman holding in the exterior hand a net all proper."

Cleethorpes District Council

Cleethorpes District Council was established in 1974 by the amalgamation of the areas of the Cleethorpes Borough Council and the Grimsby Rural District Council. It comprises the towns of Cleethorpes and Immingham and the villages of Ashby-cum-Fenby, Aylesby, Barnoldby-le-Beck, Beelsby, Bradley, Brigsley, East Ravendale, Habrough, Hatcliffe, Healing, Hawerby-cum-Beesby, Humberston, Irby upon Humber, Laceby, New Waltham, Stallingborough, Waltham, West Ravendale and Wold Newton. In 1975 the District Council was granted Borough Status by Queen Elizabeth II. The College was granted Armorial Bearings and a Badge in 1974 bawed upon the existing Arms of the two aforementioned Councils.

The description is as follows:

Arms: "Argent an ancient ship of three masts proper each flying a forked pennon of St. George the mainsail charged with an Escallop Azure and the fore and mizzin sails charged with like Escallops Sable on a Chief engrailed a Beehive between two Garbs Or.

Crest: Out of a coronet composed of Ears of  Wheat and as many acorns leaved set upon a rim Or a mount Vert thereon a Pelican Argent vulning herself Gules gorged with a strap Vert buckled Or, Mantled Azure and Or.

Supporters: Dexter, a Cleethorpes fisherman holding in the exterior hand a net all proper; sinister, a Norseman holding in the exterior hand a shield all proper.

Badge: Standing upon the back of a Dolphin embowed Vert finned Gules on Owl Or.

Motto: Vigilant in Faith and Industry."