Rare, hand-sewn Union flag of HMS Royal Sovereign from the Battle of Trafalgar, flown by Vice-Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood, on public display for a fortnight.
The Trafalgar Flag of Lord Collingwood is on display at the Discovery Museum from 17 October to 1 November, and it's a rare chance to see a piece of history that's finally come home to Newcastle. The flag is a hand-sewn Union flag that flew aboard HMS Royal Sovereign, the flagship of Vice-Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood, at the Battle of Trafalgar on 21 October 1805. It's battle-scarred, and more than 200 years later, this is the first time it's been put on public display.
The story goes further than just admirals and naval battles. Collingwood recruited much of his crew from local maritime communities, and they earned the nickname 'Tars of the Tyne'. More than 500 Geordie sailors from Tyne and Wear served in Nelson's fleet at Trafalgar, so the flag has a direct link to the city's own seafaring past. It's not just a naval relic; it's a connection to the people who actually sailed on those ships.
One thing to keep in mind is that it's only here for a fortnight. After 1 November, it'll go back into storage while a permanent gallery is redeveloped to showcase it alongside Collingwood's wider story. So if you want to see it, you'll need to make it in during those two weeks.
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Bringing the flag back was a group effort. The acquisition was supported by the National Heritage Memorial Fund, the Sir James Knott Trust, Community Foundation North East, XTX Markets, the Drapers' Charitable Fund, and several other donors. You'll find it at the Discovery Museum on Blandford Square in Newcastle upon Tyne, on display from 17 October to 1 November.
