Following the unification of the towns of Leighton Buzzard and Linslade
in 1965, it was decided that a coat of arms should be designed for the
new town. In January 1966 a Grant of Arms was made to the Leighton-Linslade
Urban District Council by the Earl Marshal of England, The Duke of Norfolk
on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen.
The design is emblematic of both former towns. The red and gold quartering
of the shield reflect the Arms of the County of Bedford and also of the
De Beauchamp family, who were granted the manorality of Linslade in 1068,
by William the Conqueror. The celestial crowns on the shield represent
the Church of All Saints, Leighton Buzzard, and the spray of lillies at
the
base are
representative
of St. Mary's in Linslade. The bridge represents the bridge over the river
Ousel, connecting Leighton Buzzard to Linslade and formerly connecting
the County of Bedfordshire to the County Buckinghamshire. The ear of wheat
on the keystone of the bridge reflects the farming community that historically
existed in the area, with the produce being brought to market in Leighton
Buzzard. The helmet on top of the shield, indicates the town as a corporate
body. The two battlemented, wall shaped, crowns are heraldic references
to the two towns of Leighton Buzzard and Linslade. The golden cogs issuing
from these crowns represent the modern industry of the town. Astride the
cogs is a Water Ousel bird, symbolic of the river Ousel, which once separated
the two towns and now joins them together.