Residents have criticised the decision to cover a Devon town’s Norman castle with a giant rainbow flag during Pride festival celebrations.
People in Totnes woke on Saturday to find the landmark surrounded by a 150-metre (492ft) flag, installed as part of a four-day event.
Thirty local flag bearers helped unfurl and raise the enormous display.
Organisers described the artwork, titled Capture the Castle, as a statement that “queer people have always been here and always will be”.
The installation has sparked a mixed reaction, with some residents claiming it undermines the historical importance of the castle.
Ian Robinson posted on Facebook: “950 years of Norman history, medieval warfare, royal decrees and Civil War – all leading up to the moment we thought: ‘You know what this ancient castle really needs? A 150-metre rainbow flag’.”
“Because apparently nine and a half centuries of heritage wasn’t quite colourful enough. Still, at least the tea room survived long enough to witness the decline.”
A giant rainbow flag was raised around Totnes Castle in Devon as part of the town’s Pride Festival celebrations
Local roofer Russell Blackaller said: “I’m all for celebrating and being generally positive about culture and people.
“However, working on listed buildings for a living, I must admit I can’t help but find this quote controversial.
“People who live in grade II listed buildings require formal consent sometimes purely to erect a scaffolding.
“Yet here we’re draping flags around a grade I listed monument purely to have a celebration.
“I mean I suppose maybe consent was granted for this. I didn’t check. But even still I find it inappropriate.”
Courtney Soleil said: “No one is saying people shouldn’t be free to live as they choose, but not every historic landmark needs to be turned into a statement for the cause of the moment.
“This is a 950-year-old Norman castle and part of Britain’s shared heritage. Countless people have served and died for the Crown and country, and we commemorate that sacrifice on Remembrance Day.
“Surely it’s reasonable to want historic monuments to represent our shared history rather than continually being used to promote one particular cause.”
Other residents, however, backed the decision to display the giant flag in support of the local Pride festival.
Thirty local flag bearers helped unfurl the huge display around the Norman castle
Heather Owen wrote: “It’s grim to think that throughout its long history anyone in the least alternative would have been persecuted, even murdered; we have much to celebrate in our present millennium.”
Neil Clarke added: “I’d love to live in a world where Pride was completely unnecessary.
‘Where two men could hold hands, two women could kiss goodbye in the street, or somebody could simply mention their same-sex partner without ever having to consider whether the people around them might react with hostility.
‘But we don’t quite live in that world yet. And, rather wonderfully, the comments underneath this photograph demonstrate the point far more effectively than the 150 metres of rainbow fabric ever could.
‘Nobody has damaged the castle. Nobody has rewritten its history. Nobody has forced you to attend Pride, wave a flag or change anything about the way you live your own life.
‘For one morning, an ancient building was used as the backdrop to tell part of the local community: you belong here too.’
A spokesman for Totnes Pride told The Telegraph: ‘Capture the Castle is the image that will define this year’s festival, but what we’ve built around it is a genuinely ambitious arts and culture programme – over 40 events.
‘We’ve worked hard to create a four-day programme that reflects what makes this town special – its community, in all of its colourful and eclectic glory. Its love for revelling in live music and dancing.
‘Its deep connection to the land and the River Dart. Its platforming of local artists and wordsmiths. But above all, it’s a place that welcomes people from all walks of life.’
Totnes Pride has previously come under fire for its use of council funding for art installations.
In 2015, the group caused a row over plans for a permanent rainbow zebra crossing.
It was eventually blocked by Devon County Council, which said it may confuse drivers.
Critics also questioned whether a Union flag would have been allowed to drape the walls of the council.
In 2016, Totnes Council removed a Union flag which was deemed ‘too noisy’ when it was flapping in the wind.
Totnes Castle was first raised soon after the Norman Conquest and sits at the highest point of the hilltop town.
It is considered one of the best preserved examples of a Norman motte-and-bailey castle in England.
