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Dover, Kent (England)

English City

Last modified: 2020-10-10 by rob raeside
Keywords: dover | port of dover |
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No City Flag

Dover was one of the principal members of the Cinque Ports organisation (something similar to the German Hansa towns, although not as powerful). Dover Council does not fly a flag of its own.
Ian Sumner, 22 October 200


Port of Dover Flag

[Flag of Port of Dover] image located by Pete Loeser, 8 October 2020
Source: https://www.flyingcolours.org/port-of-dover-flag/

At the Port of Dover website is a logo that looks like a flag - white-blue-white (1:4:2) with canton half way with three boats.
Dov Gutterman, 21 October 2003

The canton is the arms of the Cinque Ports: per pale gules and azure three lions passant guardant dimidiated and conjoined to the hulks of as many ancient ships all in pale or.
Ian Sumner, 22 October 2003

It is a green over white over light blue horizontal tricolour with ratio 1:6:2. I had the idea the colours might symbolize the white cliffs with the green meadows above and the blue sea beneath. The canton is vertically divided into red and light blue. On the red field are three golden (= yellow) demi-lions passant guardant conjoined to as many silver (= white) ships' hulls being on the blue field.
The canton is a modification of the Cinque Ports' flag. The Confederation of Cinque Ports (= five ports) was originally formed for military and trade purposes, but is now entirely ceremonial. The five ports were Dover (principal port), Hastings, New Romney, Hythe and Sandwich. They are supported by the two ancient towns of Rye and Winchelsea. All the ports were located in Kent or Sussex. The Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports held also the title of a Constable of Dover Castle.
There are another seven members , which are considered to be Limbs of the five towns. Those are Lydd (Limb of New Romney), Folkestone, Faversham, Margate(of Dover), Deal, Ramsgate (of Sandwich) and Tenterden (of Rye). The ports had to support the King with ships and men. Therefore King Edward I. granted some privileges like exemption from tax and tolls; self-government; permission to levy tolls, own jurisdiction including punishment of criminals and possession of lost goods or floating wreckage. Since 15th century the ports lost their importance due to economic development of the country and changes of the coastal lines.

Source: I spotted this flag on 12 October 2010 near Dunkirk Ferry Terminal in Dover.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 18 October 2010


Port of Dover Police Flag

[Flag of Port of Dover Police] image by Martin Grieve, 29 September 2011

The Port of Dover Police was established in 1933, but the Marine Section, which operates one Rigid Inflatable Boat, mainly in the summer, was formed only recently. A Ministry of Defence Warrant for an ensign was arranged by Lord Boyce, former First Sea Lord, now Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports and Constable of Dover Castle. The construction of the ensign is novel, being a plain Blue Ensign with two adhesive stickers, used primarily on the sides of police vehicles, applied to the lower fly - one on each side. They are said to survive use afloat quite satisfactorily, and it is thought that it will be a simple matter to apply new ones as and when the current ones start to show signs of wear and tear. It has been suggested to the Section, that when the stickers are renewed, the replacements should be in the centre of the fly.
David Prothero, 29 September 2011

Detail of Port of Dover Police Badge

[Flag of Port of Dover Police] image by Martin Grieve, 29 September 2011
Silver rays darken for more contrast against the grey background by Pete Loeser, 8 October 2020


Dover Castle Flag
English Heritage Organization Flag

[English Heritage Flag] image by Eugene Ipavec, 24 June 2007

High above the Dover Castle Keep one will see the Union Flag and this flag flying. It is the English Heritage flag. English Heritage is a charity organization that manages over 400 historic English monuments, buildings and places in the United Kingdom. These include medieval castles and Roman forts. One of those historic fortifications is Dover Castle.
Pete Loeser, 9 October 2020


Dover Station Flag (RNLI)
Royal National Lifeguard Institution Flag

[Royal National Lifeguard Institution Flag] image by Martin Grieve, 18 July 2009

The Dover Lifeboat Station is a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) lifeboat station. It was first opened in Dover in 1837. It was first known as the Dover Humane and Shipwreck Institution. Its original boathouse was located at the Western Docks in Dover. This old station along with its famous clock tower is now a protected historic museum site. A new lifeboat station was completed in 2001 on Cross Wall Quay. The current Dover Station lifeboat is named the "City of London". It was put into service in 1997 and is the 17th lifeboat to be stationed at Dover. The City of London is a "Severn Class" lifeboat, currently the largest lifeboat in the 35 vessel RNLI fleet, measuring 17.3 meters long and can travel at 25 knots when on a rescue mission powered by twin Diesel Engines. Its big and fast.
Source: Dover Lifeboat Station Website.
Pete Loeser, 9 October 2020


The Prince of Wales Sea Training School in Dover 1953-1975
British Sailors Society

[Prince of Wales Sea Training School Flag, Dover] image by Pete Loeser, 9 October 2020

An interesting historical site in Dover is "The Prospect House" (restored 2015). It housed "The Prince of Wales Sea Training School" (PWSTS) between 1953 and 1975. The school was used to train boys for service as deck ratings in the Merchant Navy and was operated by the British Sailors Society. During the 22 years the Dover school existed boys, ages 15 to17, in groups of about 40 underwent a 16 week course training them for a future life at sea. Before the PWSTS closed its doors in December of 1975 almost 2,600 boys received an education there, many moving on to serve honorably both in the Royal Navy and Merchant Marine. (source)
Pete Loeser, 9 October 2020