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See of St. David's (University of Wales, Lampeter)

image by André Coutanche, 22 December 2007

Use of the flag

Use of the flag

On the web site of the [former] University of Wales, Lampeter [now http://www.uwtsd.ac.uk/), I saw this flag: a gold cross on a black field with five black cinquefoils - one in each of the arms, and one in the center.
John Udics, 22 December 2007

It's the arms of the See of St David's - http://www.stdavidscathedral.org.uk/. The building in the photo is called the St David's Building according to the caption; Lampeter College was originally called St David's College, and only changed to UW Lampeter in 1996. The arms of the College, granted in 1830 are similar, but instead of the central cinqfoil has the figure of St David in a niche under a canopy holding a crozier in his right hand and a book in his left.
Source: Briggs (1971)
Ian Sumner, 22 December 2007

So is the flag found by John actually the banner of the See of St David - used wrongly by UW Lampeter - or is there a 'real' banner of UW Lampeter which has the figure instead of the central cinquefoil? Presumably a Grant of Arms implies a Banner of Arms, but is this use of the 'five cinquefoil' version laziness and bad heraldry by UW Lampeter, or is this 'really' their flag which derives from the See's banner but which now has an independent identity?
André Coutanche, 22 December 2007

I've been in touch with Dr Jane Norris-Hill of the Department of External Affairs of the University of Wales, Lampeter. She confirms that the flag (black, a golden cross with five cinquefoils) "is the flag of the Bishopric of St David's which was also used as the St David's College flag." She had earlier written to me: " I believe that the flag you refer to is the flag of St David's College, the precursor of the University of Wales Lampeter. The connection with the Diocese of St David's is obvious as we were founded by the then Bishop of St David's Bishop Burgess and retain links with the Diocese with the Bishop serving as Visitor to the University. I have however asked our Archivist to confirm that this is the case and will let you know if I am wrong. We still fly this flag during our graduation ceremonies to show our historical roots and our connection with the Diocese. The flag of the Diocese of St David's is a gold cross on a black field (so minus the cinquefoils)."
John Udics, 8 January 2008