North East Museums has acquired a union flag, commonly known as the union jack, that was flown during the Battle of Trafalgar. The museum group purchased the flag for £450,000, with £400,000 of the funding coming from the National Heritage Memorial Fund and additional donations.
The flag was previously subject to an export bar imposed by the government due to its national significance. It was flown from HMS Royal Sovereign, the flagship of Newcastle-born Vice-Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood, Nelson's second-in-command, at Trafalgar in 1805. This flag is one of only three known to exist from the battle.
North East Museums intends to display the flag at the Discovery Museum in Newcastle. The group is currently crowdfunding for approximately £250,000 to establish a permanent exhibition for the flag. The flag measures 152.5 x 274.5 cm and shows signs of gunpowder stains and splinter tears.