| Flag Type: | County Flag |
|---|---|
| Flag Date: | C17th |
| Flag Designer: | Traditional |
| Adoption Route: | Traditional |
| UK Design Code: | UNKG7408 |
| Aspect Ratio: | 3:5 |
| Pantone® Colours: | White, Red 186, Yellow 116 |
| Certification: | Flag Institute Chief Vexillologist, Graham Bartram |
| Notes: | The flag of Essex is ancient in origin and features three Saxon seaxes on a red field. |
Does anyone know WHY the flag is designed like this? Im fascinated by my new adopted city (Chelmsford).
The three seaxes are meant to show linkage between the historic county of Essex and it’s derivation of ‘East Saxons’. These three seaxes are supposed to be the coat of arms for the ancient kingdom of the East Saxons, meaning that Essex has Germanic origins.
The Design of the county flag is very impressive and looking new. The Essex flag is the flag of the English county of Essex. It is ancient in origin and features three Saxon Seaxes on a red field. The Pantone colors used in the flag are Red 186, white and Yellow 116 which is traditionally designed. It is a very interesting design.
Is it possible that these 3 seaxes more or less form the letter E of Essex?
I sadly think not, much as I consider that a missed trick! The flag of Middlesex has the exact same configuration, so I imagine the resemblance is only a coincidence.
I suspect but don’t know, but that Essex under Saxon rule was divided amongst the King and his sons as 3 distinct areas, Essex proper, including our Suffolk, Cambridge, and Hertfordshire lands ( the Kings? ) London, out to Staines, and Surrey ( meaning southern province in Anglo-Saxon ) sadly Surrey was lost in a series of wars with Wessex who wanted to create a Christian empire below the Thames. But the third seax indicates our right to that land. The seaxe’s are proud, blade up and pointing west indicating our desire to defend (or conquer?) those lands further west of the kingdom?
As an aside following my earlier comments, I believe the similarity between the Middlesex flag and Essex flags are due to most of Middlesex being one of the afore mentioned districts or provinces of the Kingdom of Essex. The crown atop the seaxe’s indicate it is a Royal province of Essex.