Flag of Devon

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Flag of Devon

Flag of Devon is the unofficial flag of the English county of Devon. It is dedicated to Saint Petroc, a local saint with numerous dedications throughout Devon and neighbouring counties. The flag was adopted in 2003 after a competition run by BBC Devon, the winning design taking 49% of the votes cast.[1]

Although the Devon Flag is therefore relatively new, the colours of the flag are those popularly identified with Devon (e.g. the colours of its Rugby Union team and Plymouth Argyle F.C.). Lord Exmouth flew a Green and White Flag at the Battle of Algiers (now on view at the Teign Valley Museum).

The Devon Flag is made of three colours — green (Pantone 348), black and white. The green represents the colour of the rolling and lush Devon hills, the black represents the high and windswept moors (Dartmoor and Exmoor) and the white represents both the salt spray of Devon's two coastlines and the China Clay industry (and mining in general). The placement of the colours (specifically placing sable on vert) violates the heraldic rule of tincture.

The creation of the flag has drawn particular criticism from Cornish nationalists^{[citation needed]}, who claim that the flag is similar to Cornish flag in its use of an equilateral cross. The flag also bears resemblance to other flags of the United Kingdom, including the St George's Cross Flag of England, which is an equilateral cross of red on white.