Flag of Sark

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Sark
Flag of Sark
UseFlag of Sark[1][2]
Proportion3:5
Adopted2020
DesignArgent, a Cross Gules, in the Canton two Lions passant guardant Or
Sark flags (Herbert Pitt’s design), displayed in a shop window

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[3].

Before its change by Christopher Beaumont (23rd Seigneur of Sark), the flag of Sark showed the two lions protruding outside the canton and overflowing the red cross[4]. It was designed by Herbert Pitt in 1938 and adopted the same year as the personal standard of the Seigneur of Sark before becoming the island's flag in 1987[5].

History[edit]

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

The Seigneur's flag

The flag of Sark was designed in 1938 when the Dame of Sark, Sibyl Hathaway, approached Herbert Pitt to design a personal standard for herself.[6][7] 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 the flag of the Seigneur of Sark in the original grant protrude outside the canton and overflow the red cross.[8][9] The flag was also referred to as the Seigneur's flag.[10] . When Dame Sibyl Hathaway died, the Seigneur's flag was draped over her coffin.[11].

The flag remained as the Seigneur's flag following the Second World War and the German occupation of the Channel Islands.

In 1987, when Sark was invited to participate in Island Games,[12] it was noted the island had no individual flag to represent it. Accordingly, the Seigneur John Michael Beaumont granted permission for the Seigneur's flag to be used as the de facto flag of Sark.[6]

The flag was formally granted to Sark on 4 June 2020 by Elizabeth II; this was the final direct heraldic grant made by her before her death.[2] The grant to the island, amended the flag so the lions remained in canton and did not protrude into the cross.[2]

Use outside Sark[edit]

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.[13][14]

Flag of Brecquou[edit]

In the 1960's, 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[15][16]. 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[17].

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Recent Grants of Arms". College of Arms. Official registers of coats of arms and pedigrees. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  2. ^ a b c "January 2023 Newsletter (no. 70)". College of Arms. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  3. ^ College of Arms (January 2023). "Recent Grants of Arms". January 2023 Newsletter (no. 70).
  4. ^ Flag Institute & Flags and Heraldry Commtitee (2020). Flying Flags in the United Kingdom (PDF). p. 10.
  5. ^ "Bailiwick of Guernsey, Channel Islands". Retrieved 15 April 2008.
  6. ^ a b "The Flag of Sark". BBC. 22 July 2004. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  7. ^ Bollini, Cristina (2019). "Sark". Le bandiere - tutti i colori del mondo (in Italian). Youcanprint. ISBN 9788831602709.
  8. ^ "The Flag of Sark". BBC News Guernsey. 3 April 2008. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  9. ^ "Flag of Sark". Flag Institute. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  10. ^ Clark, Leonard (1956). Sark Discovered. Dent. p. 8. ISBN 9780234773369.
  11. ^ Stoney, Barbara (1984). Sibyl, Dame of Sark : a biography. Burbridge. p. 244. ISBN 0950936006.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  12. ^ "Second Island Games Guernsey 1987". Island Games Association. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  13. ^ "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.
  14. ^ "Sark flag flown on Ministry of Justice building in London for Liberation Day". Guernsey Press. ITV. 10 May 2020. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  15. ^ Johnson, Henry. "Sark and Brecqhou" (PDF). Shima Journal. p. 22. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  16. ^ Ken Hawkes (1983). Sark. p. 154. ISBN 9780902550087.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  17. ^ "On Island of Sark, Twin British Brothers Joust with Feudalism". Wall Street Journal. 11 October 2005. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
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