Saint Piran's Flag

Flag of Cornwall
Other namesSt Piran's Flag, Baner Peran, An Gwynn ha Du
UseCivil flag Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag
Proportion3:5
Adopted19th century
DesignA white cross on a black background.
(Sable, a cross argent)
Souvenir flags outside a café
Saint Piran's Day celebrations in Penzance
Flying the flag in Portloe

Saint Piran's Flag (Cornish: Baner Peran) is the flag of Cornwall. The earliest known description of the flag, referred to as the Standard of Cornwall, was written in 1838.[1] It is used by all Cornish people as a symbol of their identity.[2]

The flag is attributed to Saint Piran, a 5th-century Cornish abbot. But the white cross and black background design is also the coat of arms of the Saint-Perran (or Saint-Pezran) family from Cornouaille in Brittany, recorded from the 15th century.[3]

  1. ^ Gilbert, Davies (17 November 1838). "The Parochial History of Cornwall: Founded on the Manuscript Histories of Mr. Hals and Mr. Tonkin; with Additions and Various Appendices". J. B. Nichols and son – via Google Books.
  2. ^ "Phil Rendle, Cornwall – The Mysteries of St Piran, The Flag Institute" (PDF).
  3. ^ P. POTIER de COURCY, Nobiliaire et armorial de Bretagne, A. Aubry, 1862, p390