Borough History
The local history and heritage of Sandwell's Towns.
Here you can see the current Amorial Bearings that were granted to the Borough on the 4th July 1974 when West Bromwich and Warley combined as part of a general reorganisation of Local Government in England and Wales. The former County Boroughs of Warley and West Bromwich created a new District Council within the West Midlands Metropolitan County under Charter granted by Her Majesty the Queen had conferred upon it the status of Borough, so becoming the Metropolitan Borough of Sandwell.
Sandwell's Crest - Unity & Progress |
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Sandwell's crest was granted to the borough on July 4th 1974. Warley and West Bromwich became Sandwell in 1974. Previously Warley consisted of Rowley Regis, Oldbury and Smethwick. The design of the shield and the crest features the Arms of Warley and also of West Bromwich which have been combined to reflect the Armorial history of the two authorities. |
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West Bromwich Crest - Labor Omnia Vincit |
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West Bromwich was one of the five County Boroughs that were created in 1966 when local government in the West Midlands was reorganised. The former Boroughs of Tipton and Wednesbury were added to West Bromwich. Labor Omnia Vincit - Labour overcomes (conquers) all difficulties or Labour conquers all. |
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Borough of Warley - Unity & Progress |
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Warley was one of the five County Boroughs that were created in 1966 when local government in the West Midlands was reorganised. The former Boroughs of Smethwick, Oldbury and Rowley Regis were merged to create Warley. |
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Borough of Oldbury - Antiquum Decus Floreat |
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The Coat of Arms of the Borough of Oldbury patented by the College of Arms in 1926. In 1894 an urban district was created that combined Oldbury and Warley. In 1935 the town was granted a Charter of Incorporation and had its own Town Council. Antiquum Decus Floreat - May it's ancient glory flourish. |
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Borough of Wednesbury - Arte Marte Vigore |
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Wednesbury used to be part of South Staffordshire and was made into a Municipal Borough in 1886 and together with Darlaston and Willenhall formed part of the Wednesbury Borough Constituency. Arte Marte Vigore - By skill, by iron, by energy. |
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Borough of Tipton - Salus Populi Suprema Lex |
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In 1894 Tipton Urban District Council was created and a petition was sent to His Majesty the King for Tipton to be created a borough. In 1938 Tipton was raised by Charter of Incorporation to the status of Borough. The Coat of Arms was then acquired through the College of Heralds. Salus Populi Suprema Lex - The Welfare of the people is the highest law. |
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Borough of Smethwick - Labore Et Ingenio |
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Smethwick became a municipal borough by a charter of incorporation in 1899 and following a petition in 1905 Smethwick was constituted a County Borough on 1st April 1907. Labore Et Ingenio - Work and Invention |
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Borough of Rowley Regis - Loyal and Industrious |
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Rowley Regis was incorporated as a borough in 1933. |
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