The two red bars on the flag are taken from the arms of the de Lancaster family, barons of Kendal, and the stylised apple tree is taken from the thirteenth-century seal of the Borough of Appleby.

The flag therefore represents the two parts of the county: the Barony of Kendal, which covered the southwestern part of the county including the towns of Kendal and Kirkby Lonsdale; and the Barony of Westmorland, which covered the northern part of the county including Appleby-in-Westmorland.

The design has been registered with the Flag Institute,[1] a charity which promotes vexillology, by the Westmorland Association.

The MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale Tim Farron said:[2] The flag was flown outside the offices of the Department for Communities and Local Government in London as part of Westmorland Day celebrations.

[3] It is used in the logo of the Westmorland County Football Association.