File:Coat of Arms - Chippenham.png

The Coat of Arms of Chippenham, Wiltshire.

Source: Chippenham Town Council website

The Arms of Chippenham are a combination of the arms of two influential local families of the 13th and 14th centuries.

The arms of the Gascelyn family are on the dexter side. They lived at Sheldon Manor, and were Lords of the Manor of Chippenham from 1250 to 1424.

In heraldic terminology it is described as "a golden field surmounted by ten billets azure and labels gules".

On the sinister side are the arms of the Hussey family. They were Lords of the Manor or Rowden from 1290 to 1392. In old French the name Hussey means 'booted' and the arms are a play on their name, showing three boots with spurs. In heraldic terminology it is described as “argent three boots sable”

The tree in between perhaps refers to Chippenham Forest, now long gone. The motto "Unity and Loyalty" probably dates from the 19th century. Before then, the town’s motto was "sigillum Communis Burgi Chippenham" which translated means "Seal of the Community and the Borough of Chippenham".

The earliest record of the coat of arms in use is a seal impression on a chantry lease dated 1378.

Language of Heraldry The left hand side (on the right as you look at it) is called the sinister side. The right hand side (on the left as you look at it) is called the dexter side. The colours used have special names: red is called gules, blue is called azure, silver is called argent and brown is called sable.

In the Chippenham shield the rectangles are called “billets” and the border across the top "labels".

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