Lots of flags around at the moment, some like this are left over from the Jubilee celebrations, others are flying in support of sporting events like the Olympics and the football. The Union Jack is not symmetrical and is often (accidentally) flown upside down, here the folks at the central library are taking no chances and have hung the flag downwards to cover all bases.
The UK flag is made up of the crosses of St George (England), St Andrew (Scotland) and St Patrick (Ireland). Ireland became a member of the United Kingdom after Scotland. If St. Patrick's cross had been centred on the diagonal stripes, then St. Andrew's cross would have been relegated to an inferior position. The solution was to divide the diagonal stripes so that the red St. Patrick's cross would take up only half of each stripe, and the half devoted to St. Andrew would take the place of honour.
Still with me? If so the flag is the right way up if the side next to the flagpole has the thick broad white diagonal stripe above rather than below the red stripe.
