List of English flags
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This is a list of flags used exclusively in England. For flags used in the United Kingdom, see List of British flags.
| Flags of the United Kingdom |
|---|
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| English flags |
| Northern Irish flags |
| Scottish flags |
| Welsh flags |
| Royal Standards |
This is a list of English flags, symbolic national and sub-national flags, standards and banners used exclusively in England.
The Flag Institute maintains a national registry of United Kingdom flags, the UK Flag Registry.[1] Flags for mere geographical areas are outside the heraldic jurisdiction in the United Kingdom (except in Scotland) and remain technically unofficial. Authority to grant heraldic bearings to individuals and corporations, including heraldic flags, belongs to the sovereign as the fount of all honours, and in England, Northern Ireland and Wales this is delegated to the College of Arms. Local authority flags come within this category when based on the arms granted to that authority. Such a flag is the authority's personal property, representing that authority rather than its area.
Contents |
[edit] National flags
| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
from c.1245 | Flag of England (also known as the St George's Cross) |
A centred red cross on a white background, 3:5. [2] |
[edit] Royal Standards
| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
1837 – | The Royal Standard of the United Kingdom. It is the banner of Queen Elizabeth II in her capacity as Queen of the United Kingdom. | Split into quadrants, the first and fourth quadrants contain three gold lions passant on a red field (representing England and Wales); the second quadrant contains a red lion rampant on a gold field (representing Scotland); the third quadrant contains a gold harp on a blue field (representing Ireland). |
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Standard of the Duke of Cornwall | 15 golden circles forming a triangle on a black field | |
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Standard of the Duchy of Lancaster | The Royal Standard of England, with a three point label, each containing three fleurs-de-lis | |
.svg) |
2004 – | Standard of the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports | A banner of the Lord's coat of arms featuring three Lions passant guardant con-joined to these hulls, all in gold |
[edit] Government
| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
1829 - | Flag of the Metropolitan Police | The Badge of the Metropolitan Police on a blue background, with white squares at the edge |
[edit] Church
| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Flag of Westminster Abbey | Tudor arms between Tudor roses, above Edward the Confessor's arms |
[edit] Counties, Regions and Cities
| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Flag of the former Bedfordshire County Council | Red and gold quarters split horizontally by blue and white waves and vertically with a black band containing three white shells.
The red and gold quarters are from the arms of the Beauchamps, the leading family in the county after the Norman Conquest. The waves signify the River Ouse, and the shells are from the arms of the Russell Family, commemorating their services to the state and to the county. |
|
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Flag of Berkshire (private proposal) | Two horizontal bands of white over light blue, bearing, overall, a stylised image of a golden deer and oak. | |
| Flag of Buckinghamshire County Council | Local authority flag. Black and red vertical stripes with a white swan | ||
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Early 19th Century | Saint Piran's Flag, the Flag of Cornwall* |
A white cross on a black field, 3:5. [3] |
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22 September 2006 | Flag of Derbyshire* |
A green cross with a white border on a sky blue field, with a gold Tudor rose in the centre, 3:5. [4] |
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23 July 2002 | Flag of Devon, aka St Petroc's Cross* |
A white cross with a black border on a green field, 3:5. [5] |
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16 September 2008 | Flag of Dorset - The Dorset Cross, aka St Wite's Cross* |
A white cross with a red border on a gold field, 3:5. [6] |
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Flag of the city of Durham. | Local authority flag. A red cross cross outlined in white on a black field. | |
| File:Durham.gif | Flag of County Durham. | Local authority flag. A yellow cross on a blue field with lions rampant in each quarter, the centre of the cross is broken with a white rose and black diamonds on each arm. Flag modified from the arms of the Bishopric of Durham[7] | |
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1900s - | Flag of East Anglia* |
The arms ascribed to the Wuffingas dynasty of East Anglia, three crowns on a blue shield, superimposed on a St. George's Cross, 3:5. [8] |
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Flag of Essex* |
A red field with three white, gold hilted Saxon swords or Seaxes. [9] | |
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March 2008 - | Flag of Gloucestershire - The Severn Cross* |
A mid-blue cross, outlined in cream, against an apple green background - the winning entry in a competition to commemorate the county's millennium.[10] |
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Flag of Hampshire County Council | Local authority flag. | |
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November 2008 | Flag of Hertfordshire Official* |
Against eight blue and white wavy lines, representing the county's rivers, a gold shield bearing a resting deer or hart.[11] |
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Flag of Huntingdonshire | On a green background, a gold, ribboned hunting horn - detail taken from the crest of the county arms (full achievement). | |
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January 2009 | Flag of the Isle of Wight | A white lozenge with an upper indent or "pile" on a light blue background, over six wavy stripes of blue and white. |
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Flag of the Isles of Scilly - The Scillonian Cross* |
A white cross on an orange upper field and blue lower field with five white stars in the upper right quarter, 3:5. [12] | |
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1605 | Flag of Kent* |
A red field with a white horse in the centre, 3:5. [13] |
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Modern form since 2008 | Flag of Lancashire* |
The red rose of Lancashire on a yellow field (originally a white field) [14][15] |
 |
Flag of Leicestershire County Council |
The flag is divided into four quarters. The first quarter is a cinquefol, or five within a red circle,the second quarter is charged a white lion with two tails on a red ground, the third quarter shows an ermine plume on a red ground and the forth shows a black maunch.[16] | |
 |
24 October 2005 | Flag of Lincolnshire* |
A red cross with yellow trimming on a blue and green field, and a yellow fleur de lys in the middle of the cross.[17] |
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Flag of the City of London | A red cross on a white field, with a red sword in the canton | |
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13th Century - | Flag of Mercia | A gold saltire on a blue field (Cross of St Alban); the traditional flag of the Kingdom of Mercia, still flown on Tamworth Castle. |
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1909 | Flag of Middlesex Official* |
A red field with three white, gold hilted Saxon swords or Seaxes under a gold Saxon crown.[18] |
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7th century (modern form 1951) | Flag of Northumberland County Council Official* |
Local authority flag with use permitted to local people. Eight yellow rectangles on a red field, note that the canton (top corner nearest the flagpole) should be gold.[19] |
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Flag of Rutland Council | Local authority flag. A green background strewn with golden acorns, surrounding a central golden horseshoe. | |
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Flag of Somerset County Council | Local authority flag. A red dragon on a yellow field, bearing a blue mace - a banner of the county arms.[20] | |
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Flag of Suffolk (private proposal) | A cross of Saint George bearing a shield of arms attributed to the martyred Saint Edmund. | |
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Flag of Surrey County Council | Local authority flag. Divided into halves, blue and black, with two gold keys representing the Chertsey Abbey, a woolpack on blue and a sprig of oak on black. (a banner of the modern coat of arms of Surrey County Council). | |
 |
2008 - | Flag of Sussex | The background is divided into red and blue bearing six traditional golden (yellow) martlets over a stylised representation of the waves on the Sussex shoreline. |
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Flag of Wessex | A gold wyvern on a red field. | |
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Flag of Wiltshire (private proposal, design under copyright) | Alternating downward angled stripes of green and white bearing a green disc within six alternating green and white sections, on which stands an image of a Great Bustard.[21] | |
 |
1965 or earlier | Flag of Yorkshire* |
The White Rose of Yorkshire on a blue field.[22] |
"*" Registered at the Flag Institute. Flags tagged as official were designed by the College of Arms, the only legal body to sanction official flags or arms.
[edit] Historical flags
[edit] National flags and ensigns
| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
1620 - 1707 | English Red Ensign | A red ensign with the Flag of England in the canton |
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1620 - 1707 | English White Ensign | A white ensign with the Flag of England in the canton |
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1620 - 1707 | English Blue Ensign | A blue ensign with the Flag of England in the canton |
.svg) |
1606 - 1801 | English Union Flag | First Union Flag with the Flag of England overlying the Flag of Scotland |
[edit] Royal standards
| Flag | Date | Use | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
_at_3%5E5_ratio.svg) |
1198–1340 | Royal Standard of England | A banner of the ancient Royal coat of arms of England. |
.svg) |
1340 - 1406 | Royal Standard of England, used first by King Edward III | The Coat of Arms of England quartered with the Royal Standard of France, azure, semy of Fleurs-de-lis representing the English claim to the French throne. |
.PNG) |
1406 - 1603 | Royal Standard of England as used first by King Henry IV | The arms of France has been changed to have just three fleurs-de-lis, following French practice. |
[edit] References
- ^ The UK Flag Registry
- ^ Flag of England
- ^ Flag of Cornwall, traditional.
- ^ Flag of Derbyshire, selected by public vote.
- ^ Flag of Devon, selected by public vote.
- ^ Flag of Dorset, selected by public vote.
- ^ Flags of the World.net
- ^ Flag of East Anglia, traditional.
- ^ Flag of Essex, traditional.
- ^ Flag of Gloucestershire, selected by competition by the High Sheriff of Gloucester.
- ^ Flag of Hertfordshire, selected by local council.
- ^ Flag of Isles of Scilly, selected by public vote.
- ^ Flag of Kent, traditional.
- ^ The Flag of Lancashire with a white field has been commonplace for many years. The change from a white to a yellow field was made at the request of the Flag institute before registration as the white field version is a banner of the arms of Montrose.
- ^ Flag of Lancashire, selected by County Organisation.
- ^ http://www.leics.gov.uk/index/your_council/about_leicestershire/civic_function/countyflag.htm.
- ^ Flag of Lincolnshire, selected by public vote.
- ^ Flag of Middlesex, traditional.
- ^ Flag of Northumberland, selected by local Council.
- ^ College of Arms
- ^ Wiltshire Flag | Flying the flag for Wiltshire
- ^ Flag of Yorkshire, traditional, register by County Organisation.
