01/06/2026
Happy Dorset Day! We are so lucky to be able to call one of the most beautiful places in the country home.
Today (1 June), we are raising the familiar yellow and red flag of Dorset, and the county civic flag, to mark Dorset Day.
It is also the Feast Day of St Wite (pronounced Wheat-a), a local Saint after whom the Dorset Flag was originally named. The Saint’s origins are unknown and there are no written records. She is understood to have been a local woman from the west of the county who worked tirelessly for the community. A firm tradition holds that she lived as a hermit on the cliffs near a sacred well and offered a light to ships at sea. It is believed that she was killed defending the local people against a Viking raid.
King Alfred is believed to have built a church in her honour at Whitchurch Canonicorum (now called the Church of Candida and Holy Cross) in the Marshwood Vale, which houses her remains. This became a major place of pilgrimage, along with St Wite’s Well near Morcombelake.
The Chair of Dorset Council, Cllr Stella Jones said: “Dorset Day is a moment to reflect on our county’s long and proud history, and on the values that continue to shape our communities today. By raising our flags, we honour the enduring legacy of St Wite and celebrate the quiet dedication, kindness and resilience shown every day by people across Dorset who give so much to support others.”
Today, we proudly honour the tradition of St Wite and celebrate the continuing tireless work and commitment shown by so many people across our communities.
