Last modified: 2020-07-04 by rob raeside
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image located by Aleksandar Nemet, 9 October 2009See also:
This Monday the Times of London carried an article on the restoration of old counties in the United Kingdom. Specifically, it focused on the county of Rutland, the smallest in the country, it was said. The restoration of Rutland was to be celebrated by a flag-hoisting ceremony (and much more in addition). Here is a quotation from the article:
A green banner emblazoned with a golden horseshoe in a ring of acorns will be hoisted proudly tomorrow to show that the smallest county in England has been officially restored to the map.
The horseshoe has been the symbol of Rutland at least since William the Conqueror gave the 125-square-mile estate to Baron Henri de Ferrers, whose family gave its name to farriers. One of his privileges was to claim the forfeit of a horseshoe from anyone of rank visiting his lordship in Oakham, where the castle has a collection presented by monarchs and lords dating back to the 15th century. The custom persists to this day and proud Raddlemen, as natives are known, point to it as proof that they are a race apart.
The flag-raising ceremony will mark the end of 23 years of overlordship by neighbouring Leicestershire, into which Rutland was forcibly incorporated in 1974. Under the leadership of Sir Kenneth Ruddle, the brewing magnate, the tiny county had fought off two previous postwar attempts to abolish it, but its defences crumbled before the bureaucratic logicality of Lord Redcliffe-Maud when he redrew shire boundaries.
Ian Murray: "Thinking small on the road to independence", The Times, 31 March 1997.
Jan Oskar Engene, 2 April 1997
The flag of Rutland county council is based on the coat of arms.
The descriptions of these is: Vert, semée of acorns, a horseshoe
Or. Crest: on a wreath of the colours, in front of a horseshoe an
acorn Or, leaved and slipped proper. Motto: Multum in parvo.
The arms were granted on 1 May 1950.
Pascal Vagnat, 3 April 1997
The flag, an armorial banner of the local council, has now been registered by
the Flag Institute as the county flag of Rutland, following the decision of the
council to release the banner to the public:
http://www.flaginstitute.org/wp/flags/rutland/
Jason Saber, 21
November 2015
The golden horseshoe on green has been the traditional emblem of the county since at least 1784. The horseshoe refers to a tradition where dignitaries travelling through the county are compelled to deliver a horseshoe to Castle Hall in the county town of Oakham. The semy of acorns that was included as part of the 1950 College of Arms grant to the county council is a reference to Rutland’s small area. On 9th November 2015 the county council agreed to waive the copyright of this design and allow for it to be a freely flyable and publicly useable flag.
Flag Type: County Flag
Flag Date: 1st May 1950
Flag Designer: College of
Arms
Adoption Route: Local Council
UK Design Code: UNKG7451
Aspect
Ratio: 3:5
Pantone® Colours: Green 355, Yellow 116
Source:
https://www.flaginstitute.org
Valentin Poposki, 2 July 2020
image located by Aleksandar Nemet, 9 October 2009
A simplified flag is for sale at http://www.theenglandstore.com/shop/html/images/rutland.jpg
