A Victorian painted wood police truncheon, decorated with a Crown above the arms of Oldham: (sable, a gold chevron invected with plain cotises, between three owls argent on a gold chief engrailed a red rose between two rings gules), and with VR cypher and OP (Oldham Police) text, with ribbed handle, 43cm long.The arms are based on the arms of the ancient family of Oldham, of which the most notable member was Hugh Oldham, Bishop of Exeter. The owls suggest that the family, like the town, called itself 'Owdham', and adopted the birds in allion to its name. To the owls, the birds of wisdom, the motto, Sapere aude - 'Dare to be wise', refers. It is possible that the family set the red roses on their shields to denote their Lancastrian sympathies.