A Modest History of the Cornish Flag

The Cornish flag, though perhaps not particularlyCornwall have strong cultural ties; Saint Petroc
well-known or important outside of the Southwas born in Wales and only travelled to Cornwall
West of the UK, is none-the-less significant toin later life. During the conquest of Britain by the
Cornwall and the Cornish people.Romans, the native Celts were driven to Wales
Saint Piran's flag, as it is also known, is a whiteand Cornwall, which is where the languages have
cross on a black background, similar in pattern tosurvived, and they are similar to each other in
the English or Devonian flags. This designmany ways.
supposedly originates from the image of tin beingSupposedly, the flag was already being used by
melted out of ore during the smelting process, asthe Cornish by 1188 when it was carried into the
molten tin is white, and the ore in the South WestCrusades. In 1415, it is said to have been carried
black; Saint Piran purportedly adopted the twoby the Cornish contingent at the Battle of
colours after seeing this process himself.Agincourt, though this is refuted by some
There are also strong similarities between thesources.
Cornish flag and the old Breton flag, which is anRather than being proudly carried into battle, the
inversion of the Cornish flag in design: a blackflag is now proudly displayed in car, shop or house
cross on a white background. Brittany andwindows, or on the bumpers of vehicles to show
Cornwall have always had strong ties, and thethat the owner of the building or vehicle is Cornish
Cornish and Breton languages share many wordsand proud, or that they enjoyed a holiday to
and sounds, supposedly to the point that aCornwall once. It's also used by companies based
speaker of one can understand the speaker ofin Cornwall, most famously 'Ginsters', and by
the other.various sports teams and their fans. The colours
It is also very similar to the flag of the patronare also used in plenty of celebrations, especially
Saint of Wales, Saint David. Again, Wales andSaint Piran's day.