THE ROBERT JONES AND AGNES HUNT

ORTHOPAEDIC HOSPITAL

Our Beginnings

The Hospital Coat of Arms

The coat of arms of the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital was granted by the College of Heralds on 2 December 1944.

It depicts the origins of the hospital through heraldry. The original citation is written in heraldic language, but in plain English this may be described as follows:

“On one half of the shield a golden dragon rampant on a background of ermine, and on the other half a saltire cross divided half silver and black. The top third of the shield is in red with the leopard’s face in gold between two sprigs of self-heal.”

The golden Welsh dragon is taken from the arms of Sir Robert Jones, and the saltire cross is taken from the armorial bearings of Dame Agnes Hunt’s family.

​

The leopard’s face in the centre at the top of the shield represents Shropshire, and is taken from the county coat of arms. There has been some speculation about the botanical nature of the plant self-heal, which is shown on both shield and the crest surrounding the coat of arms. In colouring and leaf, the heraldic herb is similar to prunella vulgaris, a Shropshire wayside plant, which has the old country name of “knit-bone”.

​

From medieval times, this herb was used as a poultice for sprains and bruises.

The Latin motto inscribed on the coat of arms, “Deo Dante Damus”, can be translated as -

“God gives to us that we may give unto others”

​

- and reflects the ideals of the hospital’s founders and their successors through the years.

A large representation of the coat of arms is set into the floor of the Outpatients reception area, and another one similarly at the east end of the hospital corridor.

Sources
1. Hospital Annual Report 1944, p 10
2. Orthopaedic Illustrated No 12 1971, p 8

​

©The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic and District Hospital NHS Trust August 2011

​