Buckinghamshire

Buckinghamshire (abbreviated Bucks) is a county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury.

Coat of Arms

The coat of arms for Buckinghamshire County Council features a white swan in chains. This dates back to the Anglo Saxon period, when swans were bred in Buckinghamshire for the king's pleasure. That the swan is in chains illustrates that the swan is bound to the king, an ancient law that still applies to wild swans in the UK today. The herald was first used at the Battle of Agincourt by the Duke of Buckingham.

Related Topics:
Coat of arms - Swan - King - Battle of Agincourt - Duke of Buckingham

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Above the swan is a gold band, in the centre of which is Whiteleaf Cross, representing the many ancient landmarks of the county. The shield is mounted by a beech tree, representing the Chiltern Forest that once covered almost half the county. Either side of the shield are a stag and a swan.

Related Topics:
Whiteleaf Cross - Beech - Chiltern Forest - Stag

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The motto of the shield says Vestigia Nulla Retrorsum. This is Latin and means 'no stepping back'.

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