^{This page is part of © FOTW Flags Of The World website}

Hampshire (England)

image by Jason Saber, 8 April 2012

Description and history of the flag
Use of the flag
Previous version of the flag
Logo-based flag
Coat of arms
A flag for Hampshire

See also:

External links:

Description of the arms and their meaning (Hants Co. Council page)
Usage (1) (Hants Co. Council page)
Usage (2) (Hants Co. Council page)
Usage (3) (Hants Co. Council page)

Description and history of the flag

The design retains the rose and crown pattern used in the county for several centuries in various guises. In 1992 the local county council received a formal grant of arms that included a gold royal crown on a red field, over a red Tudor rose on a gold field. Wishing to include a reference to the county's association with the era of Alfred the Great and his capital of Winchester, Derek Pickett, head of the Wessex Society, adopted my proposal, which replaces the "royal crown" with a specifically Saxon crown. Such a crown also appears in the full achievement of arms used by the council as the crest, symbolising exactly the same Alfredian legacy as intended in this proposed flag.

Derek is currently seeking support for his flag from the local great and the good and seems to be making some progress. With any luck, if he can secure the support of some councillors and others of the shire’s notables the good this may achieve the flag’s registration.
Jason Saber, 8 April 2012

Previous version of the flag

located by Valentin Poposki, 12 January 2007
Source: http://www3.hants.gov.uk/logos/cx-logos-flags.htm

Above the flag of Hampshire County Council, which was adopted on 13th July 1992 when the county was granted a coat of arms to mark the centenary of the county council in 1989 (only two years late!). The flag is a banner of the arms. The "rose and crown" motifs have been associated with Hampshire since at least the 18th century and were formerly used by the county in heraldic badge form (although with no sanction of the College of Arms). Because the arms include the Royal crown, the Queen's permission had to be sought and a Royal Warrant was issued.
Roy Stilling, 21 November 1995

The red and yellow flag is based on our coat of arms and is flown on formal occasions. (http://www3.hants.gov.uk/logos/cx-logos-flags.htm)
Valentin Poposki, 12 January 2007

About the Hampshire County Council flag, the FAQ on the page http://www3.hants.gov.uk/logos/cx-logos-faqs.htm tells us:

Q: Can individual elements of the County Council's coat of arms be used to make up the design of other organisation's logos and flags?
A: Organisations can only include elements of our coat of arms in their logos and flags if they have been sufficiently redesigned so as not to infringe copyright. For example, the Hampshire rose is used by several organisations in Hampshire, but all look different.

Q: Can individuals or organisations fly the County Council flag?
A: Unfortunately, we cannot allow others to fly our flag because it represents Hampshire County Council and not the county of Hampshire.

Q: How long has the County Council flag been used?
A: The red and yellow, ceremonial flag is based on our coat of arms, which was granted in 1992.This flag has been in use since then. The blue flag has been used since early 2002, shortly after our current corporate logo was introduced.

I personally saw that flag in 1998 in Winchester during a journey to Birmingham with Michel Lupant.
Pascal Vagnat, 18 January 2007

Use of the flag

The County Council is the representative body for the county. As arms may only be granted to individuals and bodies corporate, the arms of Hampshire County Council represent the county and its people. No-one other than Hampshire County Council is allowed to fly the flag.
Pascal Vagnat, 4 April 1996

Logo-based flag

located by Valentin Poposki, 12 January 2007

The blue flag is based on the corporate logo and is flown daily. Both flags represent Hampshire County Council and not the county of Hampshire. (http://www3.hants.gov.uk/logos/cx-logos-flags.htm)
Valentin Poposki, 12 January 2007

Coat of Arms

by James Frankcom

The rose is the Lancaster rose, which has been used by Hampshire for many centuries. The lion supporter symbolises the fact that the city of Winchester was the Mediaeval capital of England, and the lion thus is the English lion. The two crossed swords are a symbol for the connection of Hampshire with the army. The stag represents the New Forest, the royal hunting ground created by William the Conqueror in the 11th century. The anchor symbolises the connection with the navy. The crest shows a Saxon crown and castle and symbolises the links with the Saxon Kingdom of Wessex, of which Winchester was the capital. The castle also symbolises the role of Hampshire in defending the country. (Attributed to leaflet obtained from Hampshire County Council).
James Frankcom, 13 October 2003

A flag for Hampshire

"Design a flag for the county" - according to the Basingstoke Gazette, the "proud Hampshire folk are being urged to help design a flag for their county".
Chrystian Kretowicz, 9 October 2008