Is it time to redesign York’s coat of arms – and what would we put in it?
Putting you on the spot, can you recall the details of York’s coat of arms? I bet most of us can’t, whereas you’ll easily visualise the Yorkshire flag.
If so, what does it say about the merits of the city’s official emblem as a form of logo, or, in modern phrasing, ‘brand’? Or does it matter if our city emblem is a bit dull and forgettable?
A recent moment of serendipity got me thinking about our coat of arms and why it has seemingly never changed, whereas so many logos in life are continually changing and, from it, offers far greater public interest.
Scrolling through an online news feed while stuck in traffic on the A59 at the very edge of the city’s boundary, an item popped up about a possible ‘leak’ of next season’s Leeds United’s home strip. It proved to be fake, of course, but there was a moment of excitement that the football shirt would feature the classic ‘smiley’ badge of the 1970s as its new logo (if you know, you know!) And then, looking up to spot the city’s boundary sign, complete with the coat of arms emblem…
York’s civic coat of arms is a shield of St George’s flag with five lions arranged across the red cross bit. There’s a saltire cross formed of a sword and mace behind the shield, with a ceremonial cap of crimson velvet lined with ermine resting on top.
Its history is more interesting than how it looks. York was granted its shield of arms under Edward III, who effectively made the city the capital due to making it his base to wage campaigns against the Scots. He even held numerous parliaments in the city, and, in 1328, married his Queen, Phillippa of Hainault, here. Why there are five lions is unknown, but until 2015 a former coaching house on Walmgate, now the Watergate Inn, was known as The Five Lions.
As to the sword, mace and cap, a physical sword was presented to the city by Richard II in 1389 to symbolise privileges bestowed on York. (It was lost in the late 18th century). He also presented a mace (since disappeared) and cap (disintegrated) when he returned to the city with his Court in 1392 to escape an outbreak of plague in London. But the addition of these to the shield of arms of the city as Civil Regalia seems to have come from a bit of design whimsy of 1730 to complement a fireplace in the then new Mansion House. Besides, these additions have no heraldic authority as they aren’t recorded by the controlling body, the College of Arms.
So, what’s the message found in our city’s coat of arms? The use of lions, the mace and sword are heavily associated with the monarchy, especially as a military force. Even the cross of St George is about war, being “the military saint”, and often connected with The Crusades.
This might still appeal to some traditionalists – and those who have a grudge against the Scots! – but for many it’s a message of power formed in the 14th century, a time and context remarkably different from how we live today.
Should our attitude towards the city’s emblem be more organic and change over time – just as football strips and club logos seemingly change every season? York’s rich history of chocolate, Quakers, railways, merchants, nurseries … even the tansy beetle might have been or be worthy inclusions to the emblem.
If this sounds sacrilegious towards our heritage, then here’s two thoughts. New civic emblems and flags are created and change over time. A gold border with acorns was added to the historic arms of Chester in 1974 to acknowledge the inclusion of new land from a major boundary change. The flag of Yorkshire – the House of York’s white rose on a blue background – only dates from 1960 (the flag of Lancaster, only since 2008!), even if it already feels iconic and historic.
Secondly, this is not a rally cry to ‘replace’ the emblem through some act of iconoclastic destruction. It’s wonderful that our city emblem is literally ‘trapped in stone’ in York: on the façade of the Bars of City Walls, the drinking fountain of the Museum Gardens, and Mansion House, among others. But should we design and introduce a new version to reflect our modern city?
By Duncan Marks, July 2025