City of Wolverhampton Coat of Arms (Ancient Description)

Wolverhampton's Coat of Arms was granted by the College of Heralds on 31 December, 1898, Wolverhampton's Jubilee Year, and it was brought into use as from 1 May, 1899.

This replaced an earlier coat of arms which had been in use since the borough's incorporation, although it had never been officially granted by the College of Heralds.  The original pendant for the mayoral chain, bearing the coat of arms, is on permanent exhibition at the Municipal Art Gallery.

The heraldic decsription of the present arms is as follows: Gules a cross formee or between a pillar in the first quarter a woolpack in the in the second an open book with clasps in the third all argent and in the fourth a padlock of the second and for the crest a wreath of the colours in front of a beacon sable fired proper two keys in saltire wards upwards or.

The keys are indicative of St. Peter to whom the Collegiate Church is dedicated, while the book suggests learning, as represented by the ancient Grammar School.  The column represents the ancient pillar in St. Peter's Churchyard, the lock an early staple industry in the town, and the woolpack is a symbol of the wool staple, or market, formerly held in the town.  The cross was the principal feature in the coat ascribed to Edgar, the Saxon King.  The brazier is indicative of the Black Country.