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One of our most popular features at You and Yesterday is the series explaining Coats of Arms linked to the places, organisations, or institutions of Derbyshire. Here Peter Seddon gets to grips with those of the University of Derby.

Not until 1992 did Derby have an educational establishment which carried the official title of 'University'. In that year the College of Higher Education based at Kedleston Road was finally afforded the elevated honour following a long battle to upgrade its status.

Naturally a new University needed a suitable Coat of Arms. To that end one was soon designed. It sought to reflect each of the elements which was considered to encapsulate the origin of the University. As such it proved quite a complex Coat of Arms - indeed if the art of heraldry could be likened to cooking, the result would have been something like a 'Poacher's Pot'.

Here are the Arms of Derby University followed by their interpretation:

The whole of the heraldic 'achievement' has been said to embody the evolution of the University from several sources and influences.

The owl is the symbol of wisdom. The book derives from Bishop Lonsdale's personal arms. The Tudor rose at the owl's neck is lifted from the arms of Matlock College of Education and Derbyshire County Council.

The cross comes from the Arms of the Diocese of Lichfield, and the water in the well at its centre from those of Southwell, from both of which the Diocese of Derby was formed in 1927.

The stags' heads again refer to Derbyshire County Council and also the Cavendish family, the Dukes of Devonshire.

The armilliary sphere against the 'blue sky' background alludes to the city's scientific credentials through John Flamsteed, the first Astronomer Royal, who was born in Derby. It also nods towards Joseph Wright, a painter of scientifc and industrial subjects, and a member of the learned Lunar Society.

The stag rampant has a collar of park railings, a symbolic reference to the Viking origin of the name 'Deoroby' - the 'place of the deer'. The stag holds a bunch of broom also present on the city's own arms.

More prosaically, the mythical griffin on the right wears a toothed gearwheel collar and carries a miner's pick, symbols of Derby's great industrial heritage.

And finally the obligatory Latin motto - 'EXPERIENTA DOCET' - it means 'Experience Teaches' and was the original motto of the 1870 Derby School of Science from which the University is effectively descended.

As Arms go it seems remarkably complete if not a little complex. Visually too it is not altogether easy on the eye. Perhaps for both those reasons the Arms are little used to promote the University - instead the much simpler 'three peaks' logo is generally favoured.

The minimalist design of this logo - illustrated below - was conceived in 1993 by the Lloyd Northover agency as a 'symbol of identity'. Since most citizens of Derby would probably link it with the University, one supposes it must have achieved its stated aim.

Of course the logo has no motto attached to it - perhaps something reflecting modern student life might be appropriate.

To that end - finishing this serious heraldic tour on a lighter note - it was once mischievously suggested that the cod Latin motto 'AVE ADSUM ALE' would admirably fit the bill.

The correct pronunciation 'ah-vay adsum ah-lay' needs to be shunned in favour of the Derbyshire dialect, when loosely translated the motto becomes 'I have consumed so many pints of Marston's Pedigree that I've fallen over in Friargate'.

The likelihood of it being adopted seems slim, even for a University as progressive as Derby.

• Derbyshire - Coats of Arms, Badges and Crests
• University of Derby - A Duffer's Guide to its Coat of Arms

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County:  Derbyshire