flag of wessex

The gold wyvern appeared on blue rectangles. THE Countess of Wessex is a 'considerable support' to the Queen and will step up to assist the monarch following her beloved husband's death, according to a royal expert. The proposal was initially turned down. In 2004 the flag was taken to the famous university boat race on the River Thames by one of the society’s members Colin Bex. The golden dragon of Wessex was recalled in the 1610/11 atlas of Great Britain (Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine) produced by cartographer John Speed. The emblem has had a consistent association with the region, especially with military units associated with it – appropriate, considering the use of the dracontine standard in several of England’s major military engagements. The status and recognition of the flag had increased considerably in a short time. QUANTITY DISCOUNTS APPLY ON ALL BUDGET PRICE FLAGS PURCHASED AT THE SAME TIME We offer “Budget Price”, “Own Brand” premium quality and “Traditional” hand-crafted Flags. Scott-Giles, Union Jack: A History of the British Flag – Professor Nick Groom. It is the banner under which King Alfred the Great defeated the great Viking Army at the Battle of Edington and it was the banner carried by the mighty King Athelstan when he smashed the combined armies of the Scots, Welsh, Norse and Irish at the Battle of Brananburgh in 937. The Flag Institute Interestingly the badge used by Queen’s College, based in Taunton, Somerset is also a gold wyvern on a black background, and “The Wyvern” is also the name of a school publication. Why not create or adopt a flag that celebrates your local identity? The field given is red and there is a tradition that a golden dragon on a red standard was carried into battle by the English up to the 15th century.” this, a reference to its appearance at Agincourt and other earlier military engagements, albeit that the dragon was described as red at Crecy! A similar gold wyvern was also adopted by the Wessex Brigade as its cap badge, between 1958 and 1968. © 2021 The Flag Institute. Guess who turns 50 years old this month . and again here on Wessex Day, May 25th 2014. and had it adopted as the badge of the British army’s 43rd Infantry Division. Following the Viking raids of the 800’s the whole of … JOIN TODAY! The modern version of the flag was designed by William Cram pton in 1974. used by a divisional commander, whilst in operation near Arnhem in July 1944, shows the gold wyvern embroidered directly onto a red fork-tailed pennant which has been the distinguishing flag of divisional commanders since early in the 20th century. Download 79 Wessex Flag Stock Illustrations, Vectors & Clipart for FREE or amazingly low rates! We should keep in mind that England had a history long before the Normans, and the flag of Wessex betokens this. The beast is basically a dragon with only two legs but having wings and a barbed tail, it is a heraldic development of early dragon devices. The Flag was certified by Chief Vexillologist, Graham Bartram. Dragons or resemblant serpentine creatures were often venerated by ancient peoples. The Wessex county flag features a gold dragon on a red background. The flag is gradually gaining in popularity and recognition. Acknowledgement and thanks are also due to Ian Sumner, Flag Institute librarian, for additional research and images, Dave White for his extensive research notes and David Robbins for supplying the 1982 edition of the periodical ‘Earth Giant’ and information on the recent history of the flag. United Kingdom International Congress of Vexillology (ICV), Flag Institute Registered British Flagmaker, Flag Institute Chief Vexillologist, Graham Bartram, With the news of Prince Philip's death today, the national flag should be flown at half-mast or with mourning cravats as appropriate. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. After the Battle of Hastings the victorious Normans also adopted the dragon standard – it was used by Richard I, Henry III, Edward I and Henry V. Mediaeval writer Richard of Devizes wrote of Richard I’s crusade “The terrible standard of the dragon is borne in front unfurled”. Wyverns were also often used in heraldry more widely. The hollow head, in the form of a toothed dragon, was formed from metal while the body was composed of strips of cloth sewn together in a serpentine form that, filled by the wind when horses were at a gallop, would make a hissing sound! FLAG OF WESSEX – WYVERN • Millions of unique designs by independent artists. The Flag Institute is an active member of FIAV (Fédération internationale des associations vexillologiques). This wyvern (Chrys Fear) is much better, but it still looks a bit too busy. In his 1982 article “The Dragon Of Wessex” in local history periodical, “Earth Giant”, Jeremy Harte describes how the Byzantine successors of Rome also made use of dracontine standards and that the practice was taken up by western armies such as that of Charlemagne. This choice is also recorded by Patrick Delaforce in his ‘The Fighting Wessex Wyverns’ where he relates that as most of the regiments were from Wessex, “The wyvern was chosen in 1935 to be the sign – the emblem – of the 43rd (Wessex) Division.”. He argued that, whatever colour the Party logo might be, the flag of the region itself would not be authentic without the red background preferred by most past authorities on the subject, as had appeared in the Speed illustration and as used again in the Crampton sketch. County Flag Of Hampshire. 183 likes. And if you want to buy this flag, please contact a Flag Institute Registered British Flagmaker or Trade Member. This view eventually prevailed. It is sometimes asserted that by virtue of its appearance at the Battle of Hastings as the standard of the English army, the golden dragon flag was effectively England’s first national flag. You would think that, being an official flag of a large part of a major country, they would have put an actual seax on the thing. The Wessex Regionalists have used black, green, and red flags, their current flag having a red background. A lavishly illustrated wyvern. I like the concept behind the Wessex flag, but the official digital reproduction of William Crampton's wyvern is pretty low quality - not much care has been put into the aesthetics or shape.. Flying high since 1971, the Flag Institute is the authority on flags and flag flying (vexillology). At that time the East Anglian flag was the only regional flag included on the registry but it was barely a century old, a comparative infant compared with the ancient flag of Wessex! The features displayed on the flag represent various national and cultual aspects of the Wessaxon people. At this time Flag Institute member Jason Saber, contacted Derek Pickett, chairman of the Wessex Society, to suggest that the society seek registration of the wyvern as the regional flag of Wessex, to gain some official recognition and thus hopefully help to smooth over future complications. in his “History of Great Britaine” (also from 1611, reprinted in 1623) and it also appears there in quasi flag or banner form. Flag of Wessex replied to Dav1e's topic in Towcar Talk Any VW/Skoda petrol autos are the best if you can get enough kerbweightbfor your situation. The coats of arms or flags were designed in the modern age, which are used now for the ancient kingdoms of the Heptarchy. The Wessex Society was launched in 1999 by which time the Crampton design had become the de facto, recognisd flag of the region of Wessex, largely owing to the efforts of the society’s Nick Xylas, who created a digitised copy of the flag that spread across the Internet. Flag of Wessex: A gold wyvern on a red field. The auto boxes will need new box oil at 40k, but I have seen Passat with 200k with original oil in pristine condition. This dragon battle standard represented the early kingdom of Wessex and by virtue of its use by the English army at Hastings, is … This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license. These were later modified by the College of Arms in 1911 into a gold shield with a red dragon. The flag of Wessex measures five feet by three feet, 152cm x 91cm, with two brass eyelets / grommets for hanging. NOTE: THIS MAILBOX IS CURRENTLY UNSTAFFED The flag of Somerset is the flag of the English county of Somerset.A campaign had been running between 2006 and 2009 in support of a flag and subsequently the Association of British Counties had taken up the campaign. As seen the original war standards of the Dacians, Romans, Celts and Anglo-Saxons were “windsocks” that is, not actual flags but devices held aloft on a spear, serpentine in form, with small wings and “vestigial” limbs, this is certainly how the “dragons” are depicted on the Bayeux Tapestry. The next year (November 1975) a golden wyvern on a black background was raised over his Longleat home by Lord Weymouth, later Marquess of Bath, to mark a unilateral declaration of independence by Wessex! In 1997 David Robbins of the WRP commissioned the production of probably the first actual Wessex flag, utilising the Crampton design, which had its first public unfurling at Wells Cathedral that year, to welcome the Cornish marchers re-tracing the route of the 1497 rebellion. The Flag of Sussex is the flag of the English county of Sussex.The flag was registered by the Flag Institute on Friday 20 May 2011 as a 'traditional' county flag as a result of a campaign started in August 2010, by Sussex resident Brady Ells, with support from his father, David. The red flag with the golden Dragon (also called "wyvern") was created in the 1970's by William Crampton. Membership is open to all. It promotes flag design and flag use. They were also used by the Dacians and the Parthians as a military ensign in their clashes with Rome. Registered as an incorporated Charity (CIO) in England and Wales (No. is still in use today, worn on the uniform of the troops of 43 (Wessex) Brigade. ... Sophie Wessex's heartwarming moment with … Saturday marks the Feast of St Aldhelm, the patron saint of Wessex.”, Eric Pickles Secretary of State stated “It’s right to celebrate the kingdom that paved the way for a united England: for today, the only way is Wessex.”, And Chairman of the Wessex Society, Derek Pickett observed that “It took a thousand years for the Wyvern to fly free, may it once again inspire those who gaze up to it and bless those who toil beneath it.”, The flag is seen here with members of the Wessex Society. The choice of a red background colour reflects the scheme that had appeared in the Speed atlas in 1611, also being that originally favoured by the councillors of Somerset, although on file is a scrap of paper suggesting that a dark blue field might have also been considered! There is now an official flag of Wessex which is a gold (two legged) wyvern on a red background. is today, also the badge of The Wessex Reserve Forces’ & Cadets’ Association. Both these colours of course, as seen, had been used by the military as backgrounds for a gold wyvern. 1 year ago. In the 20th century, probably with reference to the Speed depictions, the College of Arms has used dragons, red and gold, in token of ancient Wessex, in the arms awarded to the County Councils of Dorset, Similarly the county council of Somerset assumed arms unofficially, based on the same Speed depiction of a golden dragon on a red shield. Today, Wessex is an area in the south of England including the counties of Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire. The national flag of the United Kingdom of New Wessex, usually known simply as the Flag of New Wessex or the New Wessaxon Flag, is the flag used to represent the country and its people. William Crampton Library William Crampton wrote a pamphlet for the Flag Institute back in 1973 or 1974 which advocated flags for the English regions (there was talk of regional councils being set up as part of the local government reorganisation then occurring), but his suggestion for Wessex was a gold wyvern on red. . A military standard depicting the gold dragon of Wessex was used in battle by the West Saxons in wars against Mercians, Vikings and Normans alike, and is one of the few surviving emblems from the time of the Saxon kingdoms. The society duly requested registration a few months later, which was completed in 2011. Such dragon standards are also seen borne by the English army, on the Bayeux tapestry. All seven of the Saxon Heptarchy kingdoms were assigned arms at a much later date. In the 1970’s, with the advent of local government reorganisation, the Flag Institute, under the guidance of William Crampton, investigated the potential for English regional flags, compiling ideas in a booklet entitled “Regional Flags For England.” Wessex was identified as one obvious region, for which the natural flag was the much attested gold wyvern. A green coloured emblem has also been adopted by the Wessex Morrismen, although curiously the body eschewed the traditional and near universally acknowledged, regional wyvern, for a four limbed dragon! County Divisions, Territories And Islands. A History Of The Red Dragon – Carl Lofmark. SOPHIE, the Countess of Wessex, and Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, seem to both share a natural passion for photography as the Queen releases one … The young royal was spotted waving the British flag along the Thames with his parents and older sister, Lady Louise. Scott-Giles, Civic Heraldry Of England And Wales – C.W. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. In 2012 revised flag flying legislation initiated by the Flag Institute, saw the flag of Wessex specifically named as one of the flags not needing planning permission to fly, “…..do not need planning permission to include the flag of any island, county, district, borough, burgh, parish, city, town or village within the UK, as well as the flags of the Black Country, East Anglia, Wessex, any part of Lincolnshire, any Riding of Yorkshire or any historic county..”. (Registered by the Flag Institute) Historic counties. A Cambridge supporter wielded the flag of East Anglia, in which regional territory Cambridge University is located. Another fine version of the Wessex flag, created by Chrys Fear, has also featured occasionally on Wessex related media, although it is not of course, the registered flag. William Crampton made an early sketch of the design that he had in mind. There are subsequent accounts of the use of a golden dragon standard by Wessex, from the Anglo-Norman historian Henry of Huntingdon, who wrote of Cuthred, King of Wessex, bearing a golden dragon standard at the battle of Burford in 752 when he triumphed over the Mercians, “The armies being drawn up in battle array and rushing forward, having nearly met Æþelhun, who led the West Saxons, bearing the royal standard, a golden dragon, transfixed the standard bearer of the enemy.”, He refers to its use again in 1016, by the army of King Edmund Ironside in the Battle of Ashingdon against Canute. The Romans adopted this device as the emblem of a cohort, the bearer of the device was termed a draconarius. The saltire flag of Mercia comes from this source, along with the Sussex swallows, the Middlesex and Essex seaxes, the golden dragon of Wessex, the white horse of Kent, the golden crowns of East Anglia and the rampant lion of Northumbria. , bearing a blue mace as a symbol of the council’s authority. The society approached the Winchester Guild Hall to mark the occasion by flying for just one day, the flag of Alfred’s Kingdom. Find free design advice and information here. when worn on the sleeves of the soldiers serving in the division. Clearly for a wyvern to have been chosen as the divisional emblem because of its Wessex linkage, there had to have been an already strong and obviously recognised association between the wyvern and the Wessex region. flag of a constituent unit of the United Kingdom, flown subordinate to the Union Jack, that has horizontal stripes of white and green bearing a large red dragon.During the era of Roman rule in Britain, a vexilloid (flaglike standard) was introduced that may have been invented in Persia (Iran). Post was not sent - check your email addresses! 161 High Street Thanks to the generosity of S L S Group, four flagpoles, symbolising the four figure “1”s of the “1,111th” anniversary were erected, each bearing a Wessex wyvern. In the early 1990s, Jim Gunter, an early member of the Flag Institute, introduced the membership of the Wessex Regionalist Party (WRP) to the Crampton design. Two decades later it was revealed that the choice of background colour was rather arbitrary, based on what looked most effective, as well as just happening to be the lord’s livery colours! Here Wessex was represented by a four legged, golden dragon on a red shield, on both the title page. and in the modern era Hampshire based “Wessex Tubas & Brass”, instrument makers, uses the Wessex Wyvern for its logo, and produces instruments incorporating it as a decorative feature. PLEASE USE EMAIL FOR ANY URGENT ENQUIRY. It is first recorded as having been flown at the battle of Burford in 752 AD, in which the West Saxons, under King Cuthred, defeated King Æthelbald of Mercia. The three white seaxes (short Saxon swords) with gold pommels on a red field were the arms ascribed to the ancient kingdom of the East Saxons, or … Several centuries later, when the Romano-British territory was in the grip of the Anglo-Saxon invasion, warlords, as epitomised by such shadowy figures as Ambrosius Aurelianus and King Arthur, would have confronted them in familiar Roman style, including use of the Roman military cohort standard. Flag of the Earl of Wessex for use in Canada Since 2014, the Earl of Wessex has a personal heraldic flag for use in Canada. Reference is then made to the continued appearance of the emblem, “…much use is made of its modern form, the wyvern, in personal, municipal and military heraldry. appearing as supporters in the arms of the first Duke of Marlborough, first left above; the crest in the arms of Midland Railway, second from left; the crest and supporters in the arms of West Dorset council, located of course in Wessex, second from right; and in the first and third quarters of the arms used by that famous West Countryman and son of Wessex, Sir Francis Drake, right – who claimed the right to use the wyvern arms of a Devon family named Drake. The Lord Lieutenant of Somerset, Elizabeth, Lady Gass, had shown her support as had David Heath MP and the local TV, radio and newspapers. Notwithstanding these collegiate designs however, the heraldic dragon had developed a different form in parallel. , where its description reads “The gold dragon of the West Saxons is one of the few surviving emblems from the time of the Saxon kingdoms,”. On the occasion the DCLG announced “As part of its programme of recognising and celebrating the traditional institutions of England, the government today marks Wessex Day by flying the flag of Wessex – the kingdom which gave birth to the united English nation. SOPHIE, Countess of Wessex appeared regal as she supported her two children Lady Louise, 17 and James, 13, while grieving husband Prince … The flag of Wessex is based on the ancient West Saxon standard, which was carried into battle by the English until the 15th Century. 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