The formerGreater Manchester County Council used a heraldic banner of its arms during its existence between 1974 and 1986.Although the flag's usage has dwindled since 1986, it can still be seen proudly flying outside key buildings within the city, especially during special occasions.It was recently[when?] seen flying outside Manchester Piccadilly station and at the entrance to the Hilton hotel on Deansgate (Beetham Tower).
 | |
| Proportion | 3:5 |
|---|---|
| Adopted | 1974 |
| Relinquished | 1986 |
| Design | Gules, ten Towers three two three two, all within a Bordure embattled Or |
Theflag of the Greater Manchester Metropolitan County Council[1] was a symbol of the formerGreater Manchester County Council which administeredGreater Manchester inEngland between 1974 and 1986.[2] It has not been registered with theFlag Institute, which will not register flags for counties other than forhistoric counties.[3]
The flag was adopted by Greater Manchester County Council in 1974, and derives from the shield and crest design on thecoat of arms of Greater Manchester; the design itself is used by a number of organisations that represent the Greater Manchester area, such as the former Greater Manchester County Council, theGreater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, and theGreater Manchester Army Cadet Force.
The flag is composed of ten golden castles (arranged in rows of 3–2–3–2) on a red background, fringed by a golden border in the style of a castle battlement. The blazon is: "Gules, ten Towers three two three two, all within a Bordure embattled Or".
The ten golden castles represent both the urban landscape ofGreater Manchester, and its division in to its ten metropolitan districts:Bolton,Bury,Manchester,Oldham,Rochdale,Tameside,Trafford,Salford,Stockport, andWigan. The red ground represents manpower and the region's red-brick architectural heritage, both legacies of Greater Manchester's industrial past. The embattled border represents the unity and shared future of the region, and its bold, vigilant and forward-looking character.
The flag has been reported to have been flown in front of theNational Rail offices atManchester Piccadilly railway station and in front ofRochdale Town Hall.[citation needed]
The currentGreater Manchester Combined Authority does not use the symbols of the former Greater Manchester Council, instead using a wordmark consisting of its initials and full title.[4][5][6][7]
In the case of county flags, the flag must normally apply to a historical county rather than a modern administrative area
