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Heathfield, Sussex (England)

image located by Jason Saber, 10 March 2016

Description of the Flag

Description of the Flag

The Heathfield Flag was designed by local resident Brady Ells. Following a motion unanimously passed at the Full Council Meeting of Heathfield & Waldron Parish Council on 8th March 2016, the Heathfield Flag was duly adopted. The Flag of Heathfield will soon appear on The Flag Institute's UK Flag Registry.

The Tower symbolises Gibraltar Tower, built in 1793 to commemorate Lort Heathfield's successful defence of Gibraltar from 1779 to 1782. The tower is a major landmark and is used to represent the Market Town by many groups on their logos, including 1st Heathfield Scout Group, Heathfield Hotspurs Football Club and Heathfield & Waldron Parish Council. The Tower highlights the former name of the new town of Heathfield, "Heathfield Tower" until the 1930s. The tower is positioned on the flag in the upper fly, showing the Gibraltar Tower's location in the East, overlooking the town below.

The cuckoo has long been a symbol of the Market Town. It has been tradition that an elderly lady, "Dame Heffle", release a cuckoo from a basket at the annual fair of Heffle (the old name for Heathfield village) since 1315 to celebrate the beginning of spring. An image of the lady is shown on all three Heathfield village signs, and the badge of Heathfield Silver Band. The cuckoo again represents the Cuckoo Railway line, and features on the badge of Heathfield & Waldron Rugby Football Club.
Jason Saber, 10 March 2016