Trafalgar flag ‘too rare to show’
A vicar has defended his village church’s decision not to keep what is believed to be the last surviving flag from the Battle of Trafalgar on display.
The Union Flag, which flew on HMS Minotaur, is thought to be worth in the region of £300,000, meaning that it is too valuable to be kept at the Church of St Mary the Virgin, in Selling, Kent, the Rev Martin Webb said.
Following the battle in 1805, master’s mate Stephen Hilton was given the flag to take home with him to the village and it was then given to the church by his family in 1930, where his descendants believe it should stay.
Mr Webb said that owing to its fragility it was removed 17 years ago to be cared for by conservation experts, but he thought it should go to the National Maritime Museum.