Under heraldic law in England, arms are not granted to places as such, but only to the corporate bodies that govern them.
The cost of the grant was defrayed by the Duke of Norfolk, titular head of the College of Arms, who was also first chairman of the county council.
Further grants were made over the years, the number greatly increasing after the passing of the Local Government Act 1929 when county councils gained extra powers.
Following the Second World War the majority of non-armigerous county councils obtained grants.
Local government in England and Wales was completely reorganised in 1974, with all existing county councils abolished.
[1] From 1996 a piecemeal reform of local government meant the abolition of a number of county councils.