Black Country

About the flag

The Black Country Flag is a community flag proclaiming the unique identity of this distinctive area of the West Midlands.

The colours of red, black and white recall American author Elihu Burritt’s famous description of the Black Country.

Burritt (1810—79) wrote that it was ‘black by day and red by night’, owing to the smoke and fires of industry.

The central white triangle recalls the iconic glass cones and iron furnaces that once peppered the local landscape.

And the design also features a chain to represents the area’s manufacturing heritage.

The Black Country Living Museum organised the competition that chose this flag.