Owl Obelisks - Millenium Square, Calverley Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire.
Posted by: 
greysman
N 53° 48.109 W 001° 32.933
30U E 595568 N 5962448
One of two owl obelisks outside the Civic Hall in Leeds, it's their city symbol.
Waymark Code: WMGBBV
Location: Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 02/09/2013
Views: 7
This is one of a pair of Golden Owl obelisks outside Leeds Civic Hall, sculpted by John Thorpe and placed here in 2000. There are many other owl figures on buildings throughout the city, copied from the City Coat of Arms which has two owls as supporters and a small owl in the crest.
Eg., two more owls may be seen on top of the Civic Hall's two spires, see gallery, and there are small owls on the War Memorial outside the Henry Moore Gallery on the Headrow.
The formal description, or blazon, of the arms of Leeds is:-
For the arms: azure, a fleece or; on a chief sable three mullets argent;
...and for the crest: On a wreath of the colours, An owl proper;
...and for the supporters: On either side an owl proper ducally gorged or.
The motto is:- 'PRO REGE ET LEGE'.
The three stars, mullets, are taken from the coat of arms of Sir Thomas Danby who was the first Mayor.
The fleece is a sign of the wool stapler and symbolises the wool industry in the city.
The three owls are taken from the coat of arms of Sir John Saville who was the first Alderman of Leeds.
The motto, "Pro Rege et Lege", is latin "For King and the Law".
The coat of arms has been this way since 1660s.
For a full description of the CoA and its history see:- Coat of Arms