Northumberland county flag

Design and symbolism

Alternating red and gold upright shapes meet in a stepped, interlocking pattern. The design has the appearance of a strongly simplified heraldic banner.

History and use

It is the banner of arms granted to Northumberland County Council in 1951. The council released it for public county use in 1995, before its inclusion in the early Registry. The public flag represents geographic Northumberland; a council’s use of the same emblem does not determine the county’s boundaries.

The design is listed in the UK Flag Registry. A separate, securely established registration date is not given here; design dates, public unveilings and heraldic grants are different milestones.

Sources and acknowledgements

• Flag Institute: Northumberland
• British County Flags: Northumberland
• Historic Counties Trust: county flags

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.