Warwickshire Bear

The bear and ragged staff pictured here on the side of a building in Henley in Arden, is a symbol associated with Warwickshire since the fourteenth century. Earls of Warwickshire, the Police and military organisations have all used it.
Warwickshire County Council has adopted it as its symbol but has changed it to a more politically correct less animal cruelty promoting version where the bear is holding the staff and not chained to it.
The origins of the image seem uncertain, but apparently in heraldry the bear represents strength. 
I like to think it's because there actually were bears roaming around the local woods years ago. I haven't seen any lately though.