Coat of Arms

The Shield is divided into three horizontal sections. The upper third shows the sun (representing energy) and it has sixteen rays; one for each of the sixteen institutions that went to form the Council of Engineering Institutions and whose members of the Fellow class are eligible to become Freemen of the Company. The middle third shows a representation of Tower Bridge indicating the close ties between engineering and the City of London. The lower third shows a rack and pinion representing the engineering and manufacturing skills of the Freemen of the Company.

The Supporters are a winged Pegasus and a Wyvern. The winged Pegasus (representing horse power and flight) wears the Badge of the Company and holds a measuring stick to represent some of the disciplines in which engineers are engaged. The Wyvern indicates not only the link between engineers and the City of London but more particularly, as a tribute to the Founder Master who had the same Wyvern in his coat of Arms. The Wyvern is wearing the Badge of the Lord Mayor of London as the Founder Master was a Past Lord Mayor, and is holding a shovel representing other engineering disciplines.

The Crest above the Helmet incorporates a representation of Smeaton’s Lighthouse indicating the desire of the Freemen of the Company to bring light and guidance and show that they place safety above all. The Lighthouse is supported by two lions as a British symbol to indicate strength and firmness of purpose.

The Base is a representation of the Iron Bridge (built in 1779 and still in existence) – the first bridge in the world constructed of cast iron. It can be taken also to represent strength and endurance. Below it is a representation of water which represents a challenge for engineers to harness its potential and master its fluctuation.