On the formation of the metropolitan borough the corporation adopted a seal depicting the patron saints of the parishes that made up the borough. These were
St Anne,
Limehouse, St Mary Matfelon,
Whitechapel,
St Dunstan, for
Stepney and
St George in the East. In the centre was a depiction of the
Tower of London. At the top of the seal was a sailing ship, recalling the legend that all persons born on the high seas, could claim Stepney as their birthplace. The more modern ship and quayside at the bottom of the seal was for the borough's docks. On the left of the seal was a picture of a steam locomotive, for the
London and Blackwall Railway, and on the right a loom for the historic weaving industry. In 1931, the seal was replaced by an official
coat of arms, granted by the
College of Arms. The main item on the shield is a ship on the waves of the sea, for the various maritime interests of Stepney. At the top of the shield are shown a version of the arms of the
City of London, but with an anchor replacing the sword in the city's arms. On either side of this were placed smith's tongs, symbol of
St Dunstan, patron saint of
Stepney. The crest on the top of the helm featured a
mural crown, representing the battlements of the
Tower of London. Atop the crown were two crossed gold anchors. The
Latin motto:
A magnis ad maiora, can be translated as
from great things to greater. When Stepney became part of the
London Borough of Tower Hamlets, the arms of the new borough were based on Stepney's, and an English-language version of the motto was adopted. ==Population and area==