History > Coat of Arms

1886 - 1975

The first coat-of-arms of the Burgh of Clydebank comprises of a shield surmounted by a coronet with wreath. In the centrepiece of the shield is a Lennox Cross representative of the ancient Earls of Lennox. In chief position is a sewing machine representing the Singer Manufacturing Co and in base position "on the waves of the sea" is a representation of the battleship HMS Ramillies built at J & G Thomson's Clydebank Shipyard in 1892.

In the fess dexter position is a stag's head taken from the coat of arms of shipbuilder James Rodger Thomson, the first Provost of the Burgh. In fess sinister position there is a lion rampant taken from the coat of arms of local landowner, Alexander Dunn Pattison of Dalmuir.

The motto below the shield is Latin, Labore et Scientia, meaning "by effort and knowledge".

1975 - 1995

The red saltire on the white field is for the ancient province of Lennox and for the town's more recent historic links to Ireland which previously used the same flag. The cog-wheel symbolises all the local industries and the demi-figure of St Patrick refers to Old Kilpatrick, a burgh of barony from 1672 and where the saint is reputed to have been born. A representation of part of the Roman Antonine wall has been included as the wall and Roman forts at Old Kilpatrick and Greenhill are features common to the burgh and to the villages in the District.

The lymphad is for Clyde shipbuilding, (a long-boat built for
both rowing and sailing. It is highly stylised in heraldry (see the illustration). It has a square sail which is furled unless blazoned as being "with sail spread". In this case the sail usually carries a
charge. When the lymphad is blazoned "with oars over the side" or "oars in action" then usually four oars appear from the sides of the ship.

A lymphad may also be termed a galley or galleon. It is often found in arms associated with the west coast of Scotland.

Link to the Lord Lyon King Of Arms

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