The current coat of arms were granted on 3 March, 1975. It was designed with a conscious desire to bring together various elements from the Armorial Bearings of the former Borough Council of Chelmsford and the former Chelmsford Rural District Council, which were amalgamated during local government reorganisation in 1974.
The shield is inspired by that of the Rural District, which is based on the Arms of Montchesney a renowned medieval family, Lords of the Hanningfields, as well as possessing many other lands throughout Essex and Suffolk.
Shield
The shield is silver with three wavy blue bars referring to the rivers Can, Chelmer and Wid. The indented or upper portion of the shield is reminiscent of the Arms of Westminster Abbey, which had close connections with the Manor of Moulsham, part of which comprised the original Borough.
Upon the red chief is sat a saltire (a cross like an X) inspired by the Arms of the present Diocese of Chelmsford, between two mullets (stars) from the family of De Vere, the heirs of the original Earls of Essex and perhaps the most important family Essex has ever produced.
Crest
The crest consists of a gold garb (wheatsheaf) which is differenced with the sword of St. Paul taken from the Diocese of London, in which Chelmsford was originally situated, and a seaxe, in allusion to the County of Essex.
Supporters
The Supporters are blue lions, as on the arms of the original Borough of Chelmsford, and recall the Arms of Mildmay, a locally important family. The supporter to the dexter (viewers left) supports an Episcopal Crozier with reference to the Diocese of London and the Diocese of Chelmsford. The sinister supporter (viewers right) supports an Abbatial Crozier coloured gold with veil proper in reference to the Abbot of Westminster.
The Supporters stand upon a compartment comprising a stone bridge of three arches over water; the bridge is inspired by that which is to be found on the Arms of the original Borough, and recalls the bridge over the river Can built by Henry Yevele, the King's master mason in 1372. This structure was replaced in 1787 by the present Stone Bridge designed by John Johnson and built using 240 tons of Portland stone.