England · Geographic county

Dorset county flag

Flag artwork supplied by the Flag Institute UK Flag Registry; reproduced as the registered public flag. Optimised to WebP without changing the design. Artwork and public-use information.

Registered county flag

County	Dorset
Geographical grouping	England
Registration recorded by British County Flags	16 September 2008
Design attribution	Stephen Coombes & David White
Status checked	24 October 2026

Design and symbolism

A white upright cross, edged in red, extends across a golden field. It is known as the Dorset Cross or St Wite’s Cross.

History and use

Chosen by public vote, the design uses colours found in Dorset heraldry. Gold also evokes agriculture and sandy beaches, while red and white connect with England’s flag. The cross can be used by everyone; the saint’s association does not limit it to religious use.

Sources and acknowledgements

County geography follows the Historic Counties Standard, published by the Historic Counties Trust, as used by RealCounties. Read our source and status guidance.

Flag-profile text: Historic Counties Institute, CC BY-SA 3.0, drawing on the credited research. Artwork has its own credit above.