Cinque Ports

About the flag

The Cinque Ports Flag is a community flag proclaiming the unique identity of these historic Kent and Sussex towns.

The flag of the Cinque Ports Authority is among the oldest in England, dating from the 13th century.

It comprises the forequarters of three golden lions on red, each joined to the stern of a gold ship on blue.

In combining the image of ships with the lions of England, it symbolised the ‘ship service’ provided to the Crown by the Cinque Ports.

It also symbolised the royal patronage enjoyed by these towns.

Very few bodies enjoy the legal right to fly this flag.

The first is the Confederation of the Cinque Ports, the officially recognised organisation representing all fourteen surviving members.

Then comes any duly constituted local authority responsible for a member town.

The Confederation, however, decided to offer a new flag that allows anyone to demonstrate their affinity.

The design retains the traditional banner as its basis, thus maintaining a clear link between the Confederation and the wider community.

However, it removes the lions of England and uses instead three full golden ships on blue.

This symbolises the maritime traditions and ‘ship service’ of the Cinque Ports but does not trespass on their royal associations.

The Standing Joint Committee, the governing body of the Confederation, authorised this application to the Flag Institute.