History of flags and flagpoles in the UK

The history of the flagpole in the UK is closely tied to the sea. Many of the words used for flagpoles today, from halyard and yardarm to gaff and masthead, come from the rigging of ships, and the proportions of the flag still differ between land and sea. On land, the rules for flags have been shaped by royal command, government guidance and, more recently, planning law.

The Union Flag from 1606 to 1801

According to the UK government, the first Union Flag was created in 1606 and combined the flags of England and Scotland. The present Union Flag dates from 1801, when, according to the Flag Institute, St Patrick’s Cross was added to represent Ireland. The history and design of the flag are described in the guide to the Union Flag.

Flags at sea

At sea, flags show where a ship belongs. The UK distinguishes between flags for land and ensigns for use at sea and in the air:

• According to the Flag Institute, the Union Flag’s normal proportions on land are 3:5, while the customary proportions of ensigns at sea are 1:2.
• The undefaced Red Ensign is the civil ensign, and civilian marine facilities fly it as their national flag, according to the Flag Institute.
• The Flag Institute describes a Royal Navy method of folding the Union Flag, for example for a flag presented to the next of kin after a funeral.

Nautical terms on land

Flagpoles at sailing clubs, marinas and some public buildings still carry the rigging of a ship: a yardarm, a horizontal cross-piece, and a gaff, a short spar at an angle. According to the Flag Institute, the senior ensign flies from the gaff, the senior national flag from the starboard yardarm, and a yacht club burgee from the masthead. The British tradition of breaking a flag, hoisting it rolled up and releasing it with a tug on the halyard, is also described by the Flag Institute.

Union Flag or Union Jack

Both names have been used for a long time. The Flag Institute states that the national flag may be called the Union Flag or the Union Jack and refers to a House of Lords debate of 1908 on the question.

A national flag without a law

According to the Flag Institute, there is no Flag Act in UK law. The Union Flag is the national flag by long-established custom and practice. An attempt to change this, the Union Flag Bill of 2008, was introduced under the Ten Minute Rule but did not progress beyond its first reading.

Flag rules in recent decades

Today, the government encourages UK government buildings to fly the Union Flag all year round, alongside designated days by command of the King. More in the guide to flag days.

Materials today

Wooden flagpoles are rare today. Aluminium and glass fibre poles are common, often with an internal halyard and a rotating top. More in the guides to flagpole materials and flag types.