Chris Green wrote:The bridge over water is a cant on “sea ford,” the origin of the name (via Salford).
It is extremely far-fetched to claim that a crenellated bridge is canting for "sea ford". Bridges have only been built to connect two land masses separated by sea in our life-time and are never found with crenellation. Fords have never practicable to cross seas except to reach coastal islands such as St Michael's Mount, and very rarely to cross fully-developed rivers. The only example I can think of that might properly be described as a sea-ford was Blanchetaque, scene of a sharp engagement between King Edward III's army and a French force on 24 August 1346. Blanchetaque was near the mouth of the River Somme where it is tidal and might thus be described as a sea-ford.
There are towns in England called both Seaford and Salford. Neither has arms that could by any stretch of the imagination be described as canting.
I also question the leap from Salford to Seaford, and the leap from Safford to Seaford. Especially if places named Salford are not near the sea. Sal might be related to Saale the name of no less than three rivers in Germany. According to the Wiki, its name means marsh or river meadow. That is also disputed.
Of course canting doesn't have to take etymology into account. The city of Orange's name is not etymologically related to the fruit. Yet the fruit tree is in its coat of arms. The arms is nice, but the sea bridge as canting is a stretch. I mean if you just put a picture of the arms and the name, no one is going to make the connection (I think)