Flag of Norfolk

The flag of the English county of Norfolk consists of a vertical bi-colour of gold and black, with a white bend bearing nine black ermine spots alternating between pairs and singles. It was officially registered on 11 September 2014 as a traditional county flag, following a campaign by Norfolk resident Dominic Victor Maverick Smith.

Design and symbolism

The flag's design is the banner of arms attributed to the first Earl of Norfolk, Ralph de Gael. This 12th-century design has been associated with the county ever since, appearing on maps and books and forming the basis of the county council arms awarded in 1904. It is thought that the ermine bend (the diagonal stripe from top left to bottom right) found in the design may be a reference to Brittany, where Ralph was Lord of Gaël; the dukes of Brittany bore a shield of plain ermine, and accordingly ermine figures in much Breton heraldry, including the regional flag. This ermine pattern has had differing designs but for the registration a precise form was chosen in consultation with the Flag Institute and a flag bearing this design was commissioned by the Association of British Counties. This pattern was duly registered.

References

1. Flag of Norfolk Island
2. Flags of Oceania
3. Gallery of flags of dependent territories
4. List of flags of Norfolk Island
5. List of English flags
6. Outline of Norfolk Island
7. List of flags by color
8. Norfolk Island
9. Flag of NATO
10. List of Australian flags
11. List of United Kingdom flags
12. Canadian pale
13. Norfolk, Virginia
14. Norfolk
15. Gallery of Polynesian flags
16. Ermine (heraldry)
17. Coat of arms of Norfolk Island
18. East Anglia
19. Flag of Italy
20. List of Ukrainian flags