^{This page is part of © FOTW Flags Of The World website}

Sevenoaks, Kent (England)

image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 17 October 2019

Flag description

Flag Description

It is a light blue flag with centred coat of arms.
Source: I spotted this flag on 12 September 2019 in front of the branch office of the local council in Greatness.

Coat of Arms: Shield Gules a pall Azure fimbriated Or and charged with seven acorns Or.
Crest : Out of a Circlet Argent charged with eight lozenges throughout Gules a demi horse, supporting a lance erect Argent tipped Or, entwined about with a branch of vine fruited proper; mantled Gules doubled Or.
Motto: “FLOREANT SEPTEM QUERCUS” (English: May the seven oaks flourish.)

Meaning
The seven golden acorns are canting elements, referring to the name Sevenoaks. They had been previously used on the unofficial arms of the council. The design was very similar to the arms, believed to have been borne by William Sevenoke, the founder of Sevenoaks School, in the 15th century and still used by that school as "Founder's Arms".
The blue Y-shaped pall is suggested by the arms of the Archbishops of Canterbury, who held the Manor of Sevenoaks as part of that of Otford. It also represents the road junction, which was important for the development of the town. The colours gold and red are also the main colours of the arms of the Sackville family, who owned Knole House in Sevenoaks for many centuries.
The silver circlet with red lozenges is taken from the arms of the Bosville kin, a notable local family. The white horse is taken from the arms, attributed to the ancient Kingdom of Kent and now borne by the Kent County Council. The lance is similar to those in the crest of the Amherst kin and the vine is a reference to the historic Vines cricket ground in Sevenoaks and is also said to suggest another local family: Lambard, who owned Vine Court.
The arms are now used by the town council.
Source: https://heraldry-wiki.com/heraldrywiki/index.php?title=Sevenoaks
The arms were officially granted on 3 December 1964 and transferred to the town council on 16 April 1975.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 17 October 2019