Coat of Arms

Armorial bearings were granted to Melton Borough Council by Letters Patent of the three Kings of Arms on 17 December 1986. 

The long association of the Mowbray family with the Manor of Melton has been given due prominence in the Coat of Arms. The Mowbray Arms, consisting of a white lion rampant on a red background, had long been used without authority by the previous Urban District Council. On the shield of Melton Borough Council the lion has been placed on a red and green background. The towers on the red sections reflect the district’s borough status and also allude to the ancient castles of Belvoir, Melton Mowbray and Thorpe Arnold. The green sections bearing gold wheat sheaves represent the extensive agricultural interests of the district.

The Lion in the crest bears the Mowbray colours of white and red. The gold cross symbolises the district’s ecclesiastical heritage – the fine parish churches of Melton and Bottesford and the Medieval importance of Croxton Abbey, Belvoir Priory and Burton Lazars Leper Hospital. The scroll refers to the indentures associated with Melton Town Estate and the Borough Charter.

Both animal supporters provide agricultural symbolism; the black bull echoes the similar supporter of the arms of Leicestershire County Council and alludes to Melton’s Cattle Market and the white horse is a reference to field sports and farming. The collars round their necks suggest the letter “M”, and the compartments on which they stand convey town and country aspects of the district and refer again to the local castles.

The Mowbray colours and the “M” motif are repeated in the badge. The edging of the badge has a double purpose: it suggests the shape of a Melton pie and also looks like a series of B’s (the letter B standing for Borough).

The motto, Unity with Diversity, signifies, firstly, the common purpose of the Council and the combination of the town and country elements of the old Urban and Rural District Councils and secondly, the breadth of Council opinions and interests and the democratic right of free speech.