After a hard struggle, popular opinion finally convinced the local council in Dorset to organise a flag competition. The winning design conceived by Stephen Coombes and Dave White,had been promoted for some time before the council, having been initially opposed to the idea of a … Continue reading
» ABC Flags
Northumberland
Although not registered as a “traditional” design, Northumberland’s flag is of ancient origin and in essence is certainly part of a local tradition, of some ancient standing. The Venerable Bede, England’s first historian, records a banner of purple and gold which hung over the tomb of St Oswald, … Continue reading
Caernarfonshire
Three gold eagles in fess ( arranged horizontally) on a green field, is a banner of the arms attributed to Owain King of Gwynedd whose kingdom covered most of the present day county. This same pattern of three gold eagles on a green field was mentioned by … Continue reading
Buckinghamshire
A white swan on a bicolour field of red and black is a traditional emblem of Buckinghamshire. The Swan emblem dates back to Anglo-Saxon times when Buckinghamshire was known for breeding swans for the king. The same pattern is also used on its arms by … Continue reading
Middlesex
The same seaxes as used in Essex were also used in Middlesex which originally formed part of the early Essex kingdom. In 1910 the addition of a Saxon crown, from the College of Arms, gave a distinct set of arms to Middlesex County Council. With the demise of … Continue reading
Sussex
The six gold martlets (heraldic swallows) on a blue field have been associated with the county of Sussex for centuries. They featured in John Speed’s 1611 atlas on a map the depicting the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, attesting to its venerable status. The emblem is used by a … Continue reading
Kent
Along with emblems for Essex and Sussex, the Kent horse was were notably featured in the celebrated county atlas produced by John Speed in 1611 on a map depicting the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. Long believed to have been based on a local tradition, referencing local tales … Continue reading
Cornwall
Possibly the oldest of the county flags is that of Cornwall (although many Cornishmen of course would assert that it is in fact a national flag!). This plain white cross on a black field, named the Cross of Saint Piran, has been used since at … Continue reading
Somerset
The flag depicts the traditional dragon emblem of Somerset, a design first promoted as the county flag by Ed Woods in 2006. The red dragon has been used for the last century by the local county council as their coat of arms but it is ultimately derived from the … Continue reading
Hampshire
The Hampshire county flag was conceived in 2008 by Jason Saber who substituted the highly restricted royal crown used by the county council with a Saxon style crown to recall Hampshire’s history as the home of Alfred the Great’s capital, Winchester. The form of … Continue reading