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The Seigneur's flag. Created in 1938. Used as the Seigneur's personal flag, it was then used as the de facto flag of Sark until 2020.[3]

The flag of Sark is white with a red St. George's cross and a red canton containing the two yellow lions (or in heraldic terms "leopards") from the flag of Normandy. This version of the flag was officially granted in 2020[4].

Before its official grant, the flag of Sark showed the two lions protruding outside the canton and overflowing the red cross.[5] It was designed by Herbert Pitt in 1938[6] and then adopted as the personal standard of the Seigneur of Sark before becoming the island's flag.[3]

History

Sark is a Channel Island part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, originally part of the Duchy of Normandy.

The flag of Sark was designed in 1938 when the Dame of Sark, Sibyl Hathaway, approached Herbert Pitt to design a flag.[6][7] Herbert Pitt described the flag thus: ''On a White Field, the Red cross of St George. The 1st Quarter ''Gules, 2 lions-leopards passant guardant Or'' (Normandy Ancient). The lion in base impinging on the dexter arm of the Cross.''[8]'

The canton is similar to the arms of Normandy, of which the Channel Islands are historically a part. Unlike the classic White Ensigns, the lions of this flag protrude outside the canton and overflow the red cross.[9][10] The flag was also referred to as the Seigneur's flag.[11] Dame Sibyl once claimed to the Flag Institute that this flag had been in use for "at least 200 years"[12]. However, this has been doubted by Seigneur Michael Beaumont wrote later: ''"Who designed it when I have no idea but I would guess it was at the instigation of my grandmother, Dame Sybil Hathaway, sometime between the wars".''[13]

In 1970, Dame Sybil wrote to the Flag Institute and confirmed that the flag, originally intended as a personal banner, was the flag of Sark[3]. When she died, it was draped over her coffin.[14]

In 1987, when Sark was invited to participate in Island Games,[15] it was noted the island had no individual flag to represent it. Accordingly, Seigneur Beaumont granted permission for the Seigneur's flag to be used as the de facto flag of Sark.[7] Beaumont later insisted it was still his personal flag but the Sark residents argued that it should be for the island.[16] The dispute was settled in 1991 when Beaumont stated that due to it being perceived as Sark's flag then he would agree to it being accepted as such.[6] He then chose for his personal banner a red banner with two golden lions.[3][6]

  • The flag in Sark Discover[17], foreworded by Dame Sibyl Hathaway.(1956)
    The flag in Sark Discover[17], foreworded by Dame Sibyl Hathaway.(1956)
  • A shop in Sark (2010)
    A shop in Sark (2010)
  • Sark Folk Festival in 2013
    Sark Folk Festival in 2013

New version and official grant (2020)

Shortly after succeeding his father as Seigneur, Christopher Beaumont realised that the flag had not been endorsed by The Crown for use as flag of the island.[18] He contacted the College of Arms to petition Queen Elizabeth II to approve a design of the flag in which the lions were only in canton. The flag was formally granted on 4 June 2020 by the Queen; this was the final grant of arms made by her before her death.[4]

Use outside Sark

Traditional flag in Parliament Square in London (2023)

The flag of Sark is flown alongside the flags of other Crown Dependencies in Parliament Square in London.

The flag is flown from the Ministry of Justice in London on 6 August to mark the granting of the fief on that day in 1565. The Ministry of Justice is the British government department responsible for relations with the Crown Dependencies.[19][20]

Flag of Brecquou

Flag used by Leonard Matchan for Brecquou

In the 1960s, Dame Sibyl Hathaway sold the tenement of the island of Brecqhou to Leonard Matchan. Upon taking up the tenancy, he adopted his own flag for Brecqhou using the Seigneur's flag as the basis and sewed his own personal coat of arms onto it.[21][22] In 1993, when the tenement was purchased by David and Frederick Barclay, they also adopted their own flag by using the Seigneur's flag with their coat of arms defacing it.[23]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Recent Grants of Arms". College of Arms. Official registers of coats of arms and pedigrees. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  2. ^ "January 2023 Newsletter (no. 70)". College of Arms. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d Flag Institute (1991). "Seigneur of Sark, New personal banner" (PDF). Flagmaster. 69: 11.
  4. ^ a b College of Arms (January 2023). "Recent Grants of Arms". January 2023 Newsletter (no. 70).
  5. ^ Flag Institute & Flags and Heraldry Commtitee (2020). Flying Flags in the United Kingdom (PDF). p. 10.
  6. ^ a b c d "The Sark Flag now has Royal approval" (PDF). Flagmaster. The Flag Institute: 18–19. 2023. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  7. ^ a b "The Flag of Sark". BBC. 22 July 2004. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  8. ^ Letter from Herbert Pitt dated March 15, 1938 to Dame Sybil Hattaway. Preserved in the Seigneurial Archives of the Heritage Hall of Sark.
  9. ^ "The Flag of Sark". BBC News Guernsey. 3 April 2008. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  10. ^ "Flag of Sark". Flag Institute. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  11. ^ Clark, Leonard (1956). Sark Discovered. Dent. p. 8. ISBN 9780234773369.
  12. ^ The Flag Bulletin. Vol. 12–14. The Flag Research Centre. 1973. p. 70. ISSN 0015-3370.
  13. ^ Letter from Seigneur Michael Beaumont dated December 10, 1998 to Jos Poels from the Flag Institute. Preserved in the Seigneurial Archives of the Heritage Hall of Sark.
  14. ^ Stoney, Barbara (1984). Sibyl, Dame of Sark : a biography. Burbridge. p. 244. ISBN 0950936006.
  15. ^ "Second Island Games Guernsey 1987". Island Games Association. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  16. ^ "Seigneur of Sark, new personal banner" (PDF). Flagmaster. The Flag Institute: 11. 1991. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  17. ^ Clark, Leonard (1956). Sark Discovered. Dent. pp. VIII. ISBN 9780234773369.
  18. ^ "The Sark Flag now has Royal approval" (PDF). Flagmaster. The Flag Institute: 18–19. 2023. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  19. ^ "Ministry of Justice raises Sark flag for Fief dayMinistry of Justice raises Sark flag for Fief day". Guernsey Press. 6 August 2022. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  20. ^ "Sark flag flown on Ministry of Justice building in London for Liberation Day". Guernsey Press. ITV. 10 May 2020. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  21. ^ Johnson, Henry. "Sark and Brecqhou" (PDF). Shima Journal. p. 22. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  22. ^ Ken Hawkes (1983). Sark. Guernsey Press. p. 154. ISBN 9780902550087.
  23. ^ "On Island of Sark, Twin British Brothers Joust with Feudalism". Wall Street Journal. 11 October 2005. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
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