Marden (Herefordshire)

About the flag

The Marden Flag is a community flag proclaiming the unique identity of this Herefordshire village and its people.

The flag’s colours of green and gold symbolise hope and kingship.

The upper celestial crown represents St Ethelbert, an eighth-century king of East Anglia brutally murdered on the orders of King Offa of Mercia in 794.

Offa’s palace lay by legend at Sutton Walls in the parish of Marden, and the murder reputedly took place there.

In the centre is a sword, denoting the weapon used to decapitate the king, while the Saxon crown below represents Offa.

The wavy line symbolises the river Lugg at Marden where the murderers disposed of Ethelbert’s mutilated body.

Visitors to the Marden Church and Community Fete on 23 June 2019 chose the flag, voting between several shortlisted designs.

The successful designer was Liz Roberts whose flag won by a wide margin.