The Cinquefoil Emblem

 Outline of the Cinquefoil

Seen all over Leicester, the cinquefoil is so symbolic of the city that it has been decided to re-name one of the city’s main attractions after it.

Everyone recognises the cinquefoil but how many people know how to say it?! It’s actually pronounced sink-foil - easier than it looks!  The cinquefoil is instantly recognisable and I’m sure you’ll have seen evidence of it all around the city.

How did the cinquefoil become the emblem of Leicester?  The cinquefoil was the seal of Robert de Beaumont 1st Earl of Leicester (1049 – 5 June 1118).

Did you know - in the past, the five leaves of the cinquefoil were a symbol for the five senses of the human body and were often used on knights shields to show that knights had gained “self awareness” and had become more powerful as a result.  The cinquefoil was also linked to many other powers in superstitious medieval times, for example, the herb was supposed to scare off witches, and medieval fishermen often fixed the herb to their nets to increase their catch of fish!