Lockerbie is a town in Dumfries and Galloway,
southwestern Scotland. It lies approximately 75 miles (121 km) from
Glasgow, and 20 miles (32 km) from the English border. It had a
population of 4,009 at the 2001 census.
Lockerbie first entered recorded history in the 1190s in a charter of
Robert de Brus, 2nd Lord of Annandale, granting the lands of Lockerbie
to Adam de Carlyle. It appears as Lokardebi in 1306
About two miles to the west of Lockerbie on 7 December 1593, Clan
Johnstone fought Clan Maxwell at the Battle of Dryfe Sands. The
Johnstones nearly exterminated the Maxwells involved in the battle,
leading to the expression "Lockerbie Lick."
Lockerbie developed around the square tower of the Johnstones of
Lockerbie and became a Police Burgh in 1863.
The arms are taken very much from the device on the seal adopted by the
Burgh in 1892. This seal showed the arms of Mr. Arthur Henry Johnstone-Douglas
of Lockerbie, whose family had owned the estate of Lockerbie since the
sixteenth century and who, himself, suggested that the Burgh should
incorporate his arms in its seal.
The Johnstone-Douglasses of Lockerbie were descended from Sir William
Douglas of Kelhead who married the daughter of the last Johnstone laird
of Lockerbie and whose son Charles became
6th Marquess of Queensberry.
In the arms a small difference has been made in the 1st and 4th quarters
(Douglas, Marquess of Queensberry) where the Royal tressure has been
replaced by a silver orle; the 2nd quarter is for Johnstone and the 3rd
for Mar, this last also appears in the arms of the Marquess of
Queensberry, whose motto is also used.
The burgh coat of arms were officially granted on June 4, 1930.
Quarterly: 1st and 4th, Argent, within an orle a man's heart Gules,
imperially crowned Proper; on a chief Azure, three mullets of the field;
2nd, Argent, a saltire Sable, on a chief Gules three cushions Or; 3rd,
Azure, a bend between six cross-crosslets fitchee Or.
Above the Shield is placed a Burghal coronet and in an Escrol below the
Shield this Motto "Forward".
See also:
• Lockerbie House |
