A fabulous early 20th century heraldic oak shield hand painted with the Coat of Arms of the County Borough of Wigan. The motto reads: “Ancient and Loyal” and the shield was presented to George Bradshaw Esq. by the Corporation of Wigan on the 9th November 1927

English, circa 1927
 
Dimensions

Height: 37.5cm / 14¾"
Width: 30cm / 11¾"
Depth: 2.5cm / 1”

The Coat of Arms of Wigan incorporates several elements from a number of ancient seals dating from the 12th century. The central triple-towered castle is mounted on a red shield and is flanked by two gold lions. Above the castle is a third gold couchant lion topped with a crowned King believed to be modelled on a portrait of King Edward III (1312-1377). The lions were taken from the Royal Arms of England. In a charter of 1350 King Edward III granted Wigan the right to use a seal known as the King’s Recognaisance Seal on which were depicted the King’s head and royal lion. The elements represent the borough’s history, including its ancient borough status and loyalty to the Crown. The motto “Ancient and Loyal” stems from an epithet originating in the 1663 charter of King Charles II, which described Wigan as an “ancient borough” and noted its “loyalty to us”. Wigan is not only the oldest borough in Lancashire, it is also one of the oldest in England.