
A huge 217-year-old flag captured from a French battleship by Admiral Lord Nelson is set to go on display for the first time in more than 100 years.

The ensign of Généreux, which is roughly the size of a tennis court, was taken by Nelson and his men in 1800 and is believed to be one of the earliest Tricolours in existence.

It had been flown from a mast at the stern of the ship during the Battle of the Nile in August 1798 - the conflict that cemented Nelson's reputation as Britain's greatest Admiral. The ship had ultimately escaped Nelson's men but they caught up with the vessel during the Battle of the Malta Convoy and seized the Tricolour.

Volunteers are carrying out painstaking conservation works before it is unveiled to the public at Norwich Castle Museum with plans to put it on permanent public display at a cost of £40,000.

It is a remarkable survivor from the days of sea battles when national flags played a vital role in naval engagement so warring ships could identify who was the enemy through cannon smoke and the chaos of battle.

The flag from the French ship Généreux was taken by Lord Admiral Nelson and his men in 1800 and is believed to be one of the earliest Tricolours in existence

Conservationists had to find a space big enough to unfurl the flag and carry out checks at its previous home St Andrew's Hall

The volunteers hope to put it on permanent public display at a cost of £40,000 after painstaking restoration works

The flag, which measures 52ft by 27ft, is believed to be the oldest surviving Tricolour and is thought to have been on Généreux at the Battle of the Nile in 1798 when the ship escaped capture.

But one of Nelson's most trusted captains Sir Edward Berry seized the flag two years later when the ship surrendered to him at the Battle of the Malta Convoy on February 18th 1800 - exactly 217 years ago this Saturday.

Captain Berry and Lord Nelson, who was born in Norfolk, gave the war trophy to the city of Norwich.

The flag was on display permanently in St Andrew's Hall in Norwich until 1897.

It was exhibited again in 1905 to mark the centenary of the Battle of Trafalgar in Norwich Castle and has been kept in storage ever since due to its fragility.

Généreux was one of only two ships to escape the British attack at the Battle of the Nile in August 1798 but Nelson's men caught up with the vessel two years later

It will be the centrepiece of an exhibition exploring Nelson's relationship with his home county of Norfolk this summer and conservationists had to find a space big enough to unfurl it and carry out checks and cleaning at its previous home St Andrew's Hall.

Norwich Castle costume and textiles curator Ruth Battersby-Tooke said: 'The Ensign is remarkable for its survival in such a complete state, given its age and inherent fragility.

'It is emblematic of Norfolk Museums Service's Nelson collections, the oldest French Ensign in the UK and the one with the most stirring and thrilling history.

The flag was put on public display at Norwich Castle in 1905 for the Battle of Trafalgar centenary year

'When we conceived the exhibition we were determined to find a way of putting the flag on display.

'This has not been without its challenges, not least finding a space large enough to unroll the flag to condition check it and begin the conservation process.

'It was incredibly moving to be able to unroll the Ensign in the space where it had been on display until 1897.'

The flag will be on display from July 29 to October 1.

Généreux and Guillaume Tell were the only two ships of the French fleet to escape the British in the Battle of the Nile in 1798.

A few days after the battle, Généreux captured the British ship, HMS Leander, which had been transporting Admiral Lord Nelson's flag captain, Edward Berry, who was carrying the dispatches from the Battle of the Nile.

Généreux went on to elude the Royal Navy in the Mediterranean for a further 18 months until being captured by HMS Foudroyant under the command of Captain Berry at the Battle of the Malta Convoy.

Her Tricolour ensign was then struck, meaning it was removed from the flagpole at the ship's rear to show she was no longer in battle.

Généreux, which was launched by the French in 1785, finished her career after capture as a Royal Navy ship under the name HMS Généreux before being broken up in 1816.

The ensign was the second trophy Admiral Lord Nelson sent to Norwich - the first being a sword from the Battle of Cape St Vincent in 1797.

The sword is usually displayed in Norwich Castle but is currently undergoing conservation work ahead of the new exhibition.