The Flags Of The Isle Of Wight

Previously a part of Hampshire, the Isle of Wight was declared a county in 1890. One hundred and nineteen years later, it received its own flag.

The design itself is a light blue background with dark blue and white wavy lines running horizontally across the bottom in a sea-like image. Above these is a white diamond shape with a narrow triangle removed from the top corner representing the island itself.

Although the Isle of Wight is not a traditional or historical county, normally a requirement for the Flag Institute to recognise a flag as the county flag, the flag was recognised and is described as a county flag none-the-less.

Its development began when the Isle of Wight Flag Committee was created in 2007 and invited members of the public to submit their designs for the flag. This may have been partially because of the success of the Flag of Devon, which launched in 2003. It became a hit with tourists and the local population, and it would not have been odd to think that holidays on the Isle of Wight might increase, or at least have another aspect to market.

Over three-hundred-and-fifty entries were received, and of these the committee chose four to submit to public vote. The design that is now displayed across the island is John Graney’s, who won.

The new flag has faced competition though; there has been an Isle of Wight flag before, though its origins are unknown. This flag, a central white band with thinner green bands on each side, is thought by some to be the true island flag.
Depending on which of the Isle of Wight hotels, gift shops or even houses you visit, seeing this tri-colour flag is not uncommon. Because of its unofficial nature, this flag has also been called the ‘Rebel flag’.

As well as these two flags, there is the council flag, which has a castle in the centre, then three gold anchors, one at the bottom and one at either side, on a dark blue background. This is not seen nearly as much as the other two flags as it is emblematic of the council, not the island as a whole.

By: Tom Sangers

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Tom Sangers sometimes writes on behalf of Garden Isle Hotels about their Isle of Wight accommodation and Hotels on the Isle of Wight.