Council Logo

Our Council logo is based on the "armorial bearings" or heraldic crest of the County Council.
The logo consists of a single image which incorporates our crest, the words "Durham County Council" and an oval shape.

(( New DCC Logo and Strapline )) If you want to use our logo, please contact our Design and Print Services Team who can supply detailed usage guidelines and/or various resolution of artwork, suitable for Print and Web purposes.

What do the symbols mean?

The crest is based on the armorial bearings granted to the County Council on 30th May 1961.
They in turn are based on the Arms of the Bishopric of Durham.
This is because the County Council inherited some of the powers enjoyed by the former palatinate Bishops of Durham.
The blue shield, gold cross and four rampant lions come from the Arms of the Bishopric.
A number of changes were made to distinguish our arms from those of the Bishops.
A crown was added to the top of the crest because this is a traditional heraldic emblem reserved for county councils.
Black diamonds or lozenges were also added to represent the coal industry which for many generations was the largest employer and most important industry in the County. In 1974 the County Council's boundaries were changed and we became responsible for the Startforth Rural District in the North Riding of Yorkshire.
A white rose - the county emblem for Yorkshire - was added to the arms to reflect the change in boundary. Our current arms were granted by the Royal College of Arms on 10 May 1974.
As such they belong to the County Council and should not be used to represent another organisation.

General Logo Guidelines

Our logo helps us to communicate a consistent 'appearence' and reflects our efforts to provide quality services for the County.
Therefore it is important that the logo is used correctly.
Please refer to the bulleted list below: The logo should always be reproduced from original artwork.
Please contact our Design and Print Services Team for a copy of the logo to suit your requirements. Note: The images on this page have been compressed to minimise download time and are purely for illustration purposes.
These images should not be copied for use elsewhere. The strapline should accompany the logo.
It can be displayed in a variety of ways to suit the layout of documents, presentations, leaflets, brochures, posters etc.
For example:
(( New DCC Logo and Strapline ))

(( Short Strapline )) The logo should be no smaller than 35mm across, this ensures that the detail within the logo remains clear. Our corporate colours are specific shades of yellow and blue.
These should be specified correctly according to how the logo is to be reproduced.
(( Corporate colours ))

Production Method

Corporate Blue

Corporate Yellow

PANTONE Matching System� (PMS)

PANTONE 281

PANTONE 131 Four-colour printing (CMYK)

C 100%, M 70%, Y 0%, K 50%

C 0%, M 40%, Y 100%, K 10% Monitor Display (RGB)

Hex 001D61

Hex D19700 Websafe Palette (RGB)

Hex 000066

Hex CC9900 Where reproduction is restricted to one colour, a black and white version of the logo is available.

In addition a mid to dark 'spot colour' can be used.
(( Black and White version ))
(( Monotone/Spot Colour version )) We have developed a 'reversed' logo for use on dark backgrounds.
Note that the reversed logo preserves the correct lightness and darkness of the crest elements - it is not simply a negative.
(( Reversed Logo )) The logo must NOT be redrawn using other typefaces or crest images.
Please do not create 'home-made' versions.
(( Home-made version )) The logo must NOT be distorted, stretched or squashed
(( Distorted logo ))
(( Distorted logo )) For further information on use of the logo please contact: Design and Print Services Customer Services Durham County Council County Hall Durham DH1 5UE Telephone (0191) 383 3761 e-mail: [email protected] Online Feedback: Design and Print Services
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Also See • Relevant Links • Relevant Contacts • Relevant FAQs • Relevant Statutory Notices
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