DescriptionThe Bermondsey Lion plaque, The Blue (Sep 2012).JPG
English: Plaque on the plinth of the Lion of Bermondsey in The Blue, Bermondsey
The Bermondsey Lion
The Bermondsey Lion has been an enduring symbol of the area for
centuries and initially represented the once powerful Bermondsey Abbey
(hence the crozier placed in the front right paw). The Abbey was
located around the (modern day) junction of Tower Bridge Road with
Long Lane and Abbey Street, although it's lands extended over a vast
area. The lion forms the major part of the former Metropolitan
Borough of Bermondsey's coat of arms which were granted in March 1901
by the College of Heralds and was used until it's merger into the
modern day London borough of Southwark on April 1st 1965. the old
metropolitan borough was established form the parishes of
Bermondsey, Rotherhithe, St Olave, St John Horsleydown and
St Thomas Southwark. The symbols represented on the coat of arms
are the lion with crozier for Bermondsey, the ship representing
Rotherhithe's one time main industry and the axe and crown of
King Olaf which was formerly used by the St Olave District
Board of works. The legend Prosunt Gentibus Artes translated
means Arts Profit the People and originally came from the
former coat of arms for the vestry of Rotherhithe.
This representation of the Bermondsey Lion created by Kevin Boys for Southwark Council was unveiled by the Worshipful the Mayor of Southwark, councillor Lorraine Lauder MBE, Flo Weller and Kyle Quin on 16th July 2011
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