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Hampshire (England)

English Traditional County

Last modified: 2021-04-10 by rob raeside
Keywords: hampshire | united kingdom | rose | crown | petersfield |
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[Flag of Hampshire County Council] image by Jason Saber, 8 April 2012

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Description and History of the Hampshire Flag

The flag of Hampshire, conceived by Jason Saber and further refined by Brady Ells, retains the rose and crown pattern used in the county for several centuries. It was registered on March 12th 2019.

  • Flag Type: County Flag
  • Flag Date: 12th March 2019
  • Adoption Route: Regional Organisation
  • UK Design Code: UNKG7463
  • Aspect Ratio: 3:5
  • Pantone© Colours: Red 485, Dark Red 484, Yellow 116, Gold 137, White, Grey 422, Green 356
  • Certification: Flag Institute Chief Vexillologist, Graham Bartram
Notes: The flag design is a modified form of the banner of arms granted to Hampshire County Council in 1992, comprising a bi-colour of yellow and red with a rose and crown. Both the colours and emblems have been associated with the county for centuries. In order to make clear the distinction between the civic banner and community flag, as well as avoiding royal and national symbols, the registered design replaces the Royal Crown and Tudor Rose as symbols of the council authority with variants
The flag was proposed by a number of local organisations, including Hampshire Hockey Association and the Lymington & District Historical Society. Whilst using traditional elements being primarily based on a 1992 design the flag is not considered traditional but received support from the administrative and ceremonial leaders of the county to ensure registration.
Source: https://www.flaginstitute.org/wp/flags/hampshire/
John Moody, 13 March 2019

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 Hampshire Flag

[Flag of Hampshire County Council] 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. (source)
Valentin Poposki, 12 January 2007

About the Hampshire County Council flag, the FAQ on the page Hampshire Website: Q&A 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

Hampshire County Council
Logo-based Flag

[Coat of arms of Hampshire County Council] 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

Hampshire County Council Logo

[Hampshire County Council Logo] located by Pete Loeser, 6 April 2021

Hampshire County Council
Coat of Arms

[Coat of arms of Hampshire County Council] image located by James Frankcom, 13 October 2003 - modified by Pete Loeser, 2 October 2020

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

Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service (HIWFRS)
Hampshire Fire & Rescue Service (HFRS)

[Flag of Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service] Flag      [badge of Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service] Badge
images by Pete Loeser, 6 April 2021

The Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service (HIWFRS) is now the fire and rescue service for the county of Hampshire, including the cities of Southampton and Portsmouth, and the Isle of Wight on the south coast of England. The service was formed on 1 April 2021 from the merger of Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service and the Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service.
The new badge has a Red rose of Hampshire on a white background above three anchors of Isle of Wight (white on a navy background) separated by three wavy lines (the Solent) all contained in a shield. The shield sits within an eight pointed star, common with other fire services in the United Kingdom, with Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service written in a ring between the two.
Pete Loeser, 6 April 2021

Old Hampshire Fire & Rescue Service

[Flag of Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service] Flag 1992-2021     [Flag of Hampshire Police] Badge 1992-2021
images by Pete Loeser, 6 April 2021

As mentioned above they merged with the Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service five days ago. The old flag of the Hampshire Fire & Rescue Service was their logo placed on a red field as illustrated. They used this flag, badge and logo between 1992-2021.
Pete Loeser, 6 April 2021

[Logo of Hampshire Fire & Rescue] Old Logo    [Logo of Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service] New Logo
image located by Pete Loeser, 6 April 2021

Hampshire Constabulary Flags
Hampshire Police

[Flag of Hampshire Constabulary]      [Flag of Hampshire Police]
images by Pete Loeser, 6 April 2021

The Hampshire Constabulary is the territorial police force responsible for policing the counties of Hampshire including the cities of Southampton and Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight off the coast. The force maintains a strategic headquarters to Eastleigh and an Operational Headquarters to Mottisfont Court in Winchester. The force was first formed as the Winchester City Police in 1832, and renamed the Hampshire County Constabulary in 1839 as a result of the passing of the County Police Act of 1839.
The older flag of the Hampshire Constabulary has a white police logo placed on a royal blue field as illustrated, while a newer one has a colored logo entered on it.
Pete Loeser, 6 April 2021

[Logo of Hampshire Fire & Rescue]     [Logo of Hampshire Fire & Rescue]     [Logo of Hampshire Fire & Rescue]
images located by Pete Loeser, 6 April 2021

While the force officially remains the Hampshire Constabulary the more modern name of "Police" has appeared on their various logo in recent years.
Pete Loeser, 6 April 2021

Hampshire Constabulary Marine Unit
Blue Ensign of Her Majesty

[Flag of Hampshire County Council] image by Clay Moss, 1 March 2008

A warrant signed by Rt. Hon. Philip Hammond MP, Secretary of State for Defence, on 23 November 2012, authorised the Blue Ensign of Her Majesty to be worn by vessels owned, chartered or hired by Hampshire Constabulary Marine Unit. The unit currently operates two 7.99 metre Rigid Inflatable Boats 'Pursuer' and 'Protector', an 11 metre Patrol Launch 'Preventer' and a 12 metre Catamaran 'Commander'.
David Prothero, 5 February 2013