The move, which the council says will be a “cost-free addition”, will see the historic crest return to street signs as part of the regular replacement programme for damaged or missing nameplates, a move designed to celebrate the city’s heritage.
The council said the new signs will also be more resilient to the weather, ensuring they last longer.
“The city crest is part of our shared heritage,” said Cllr Andrew Stevens,, Cabinet Member for Environment and Infrastructure Management.
“By adding them to street signs as we did many years ago will help celebrate our shared history and add to our sense of shared identity.”
The announcement, made on the council’s Facebook page, has generated significant public discussion. The first of the new signs have been installed in Morriston.
Cllr Stevens added that the idea had been suggested by a number of people and that it “does add a stylish new look to the nameplates.”
He also provided some historical context for the crest, which includes the city’s Latin motto, ‘Floreat Swansea’, meaning ‘Let Swansea Flourish’.
The crest itself is rich with symbolism representing the city’s history. The blue and white wavy lines signify Swansea’s status as a seaport, while the castle represents its medieval fortifications. An osprey, long associated with the city, forms the crest, and the shield is supported by a lion, representing the de Braos family who were Lords of Gower, and a dragon, representing Wales.
“The origin of our city’s coat of arms is lost to history, but the one we’re using now dates back more than a century to 1922 when it was granted by the College of Arms. Since then it’s had additions as Swansea has flourished from a town to the city we live in today.”
The painted signs ware away after a few years…waste of money bring back the enamel signs they never ware out