Coat of arms of Wakefield
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The Coat of arms of the Metropolitan District of Wakefield were granted in 1990. Prior to this date, the Council did not have Arms that represented the whole district. Arms had been granted to the district's constituent city and towns (Wakefield, Castleford, Horbury, Knottingley, Ossett and Pontefract) but an application to the College of Arms was made for a unifying achievement.
The shield of the arms has a background of black and gold. The black represents the coal mining industry that was once widespread and important to the district. In the top, left of the shield is the arms of the city of Wakefield.
The compartment shows thirteen acorns which represents the thirteen former Yorkshire areas that merged to form the new district in 1974. Beneath the compartment is a motto, "Persevere and prosper".
Arms of the City proper
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The arms used before 1990 had been used in Wakefield for over 500 years. The arms had the simple blazon of "Azure, a fleur-de-lys Or". Despite such history, the arms were not officially granted until 1932 when the Ermine fimbriation was added. Consequently the blazon became "Azure, a fleur-de-lys Or fimbriated Ermine".
See also
The arms of Wakefield's West Yorkshire neighbours: