Coat of Arms

This page explains the heraldic features of the Farnham Town armorial bearings and its associated motto.

Armorial Bearings, or coat of arms, were granted to the former Farnham Urban District Council in 1950.  They were then granted to Farnham Town Council in 1986 and are on display in the council offices.

The design expresses in heraldic form and colours the main features in the history of Farnham.  The Castle represents the stronghold built at Farnham in the twelfth century by Henri du Blois, Bishop of Winchester, and the mitre and pastoral staff allude to the town's long associations with the Sees of Winchester and Guildford.

The green field, the stag's head, and the oak refer to the parks and woodlands of the district, while the ears of wheat stand for agriculture, and the sprig of hops for produce for which Farnham was formerly famous.  The stone axe refers to the prehistory of the district.

The motto "By Worth" is taken from the name of one of the town's benefactors, John Byworth.  A clothier by trade, he presented the town in 1623 with the "Byworth Cup", a replica of which is in the custody of The Museum of Farnham.