Lancashire Best Kept Village Competition

Participating Villages

Lancashire VillageThere are 'Best Kept Village Competitions' across the country, the Lancashire competition has been going for over 60 years. Villages enter for a variety of reasons bringing people together with a common aim: such as to promote pride in the village, to deter vandalism, graffiti and anti-social behaviour, to help different organisations to work together for the common good, to encourage young people to take part in different activities and connect with the village (planting, weeding, litter picking…) and generally to make their village a better place to live.

After the hiatus of 2020, due to Government Covid-19 pandemic measures, the competition returned in 2021. In 2023 there were 47 entrants. In 2023 the competition rules and organisation was reviewed with volunteer judges attending training sessions; the competiton saw a new category - 'Tidy Town' - being piloted.

The 2024 Lancashire Best Kept Village Competition invited entrants from villages across the county. There are six categories determined by village size and - following the 'Tidy Towns' pilot in 2023 - there is a new 'Urban Community' class which allows larger towns to nominate a small areas within for consideration for this new award. Villages can also nominate their 'Outstanding Features' - please refer to Competition Criteria and Competition Entry Rules for more information.

The closing date for entries was 31st March. 2024 entrants and class listed below.

Judges training took place Wednesday, 10th April (7pm) and Saturday, 11th May (2pm) at Elswick Village Hall.

Competition Villages 2024

There are 45 entrants this year. 17 villages have made it through to Round 2. Winners now announced.
Key: R2 Villages making Second Round judging / F Finalist / F* Winner.

Adlington Higher (Large) R2 F
Adlington Lower (Champion)
Barley (Champion)
Barton (Champion)
Belmont (Small) R2
Bilsborrow (Medium)
Blacko (Champion) R2
Bretherton (Champion) R2
Brindle (Small) R2 F*
Broughton (Large)
Chapeltown (Small)
Chipping (Champion) R2
Cumeragh (Goosnargh) (Hamlet)
Elswick (Champion)
Goosnargh & Whittingham (Medium) R2
Grimsargh (Large)
Grindleton (Champion) R2 F*
Haighton (Hamlet)
Halsall (Champion)
Hambleton (Large) R2
Haskayne (Small)
Heapey (Small)
Holt Green (Small)
Hurst Green (Small)
Inglewhite (Hamlet) R2 F
Ingol (Urban Community) F*
Little Eccleston (Hamlet) R2 F*
Longton (Large) R2 F*
New Longton (Large)
Newburgh (Medium) R2 F
Newchurch & Spenbrook (Small)
Parbold (Large)
Pressall & Knott End (Large)
Roughlee (Small) R2 F
Sabden (Champion) R2 F
Sabden Fold (Hamlet)
Shirdley Hill (Small)
Stalmine with Staynall (Medium)
Tanterton (Urban Community) F
Town Green (Champion)
Waddington (Medium) R2 F*
Walmer Bridge (Large)
Weeton (Medium)
West Bradford (Small) R2
Whitechapel (Champion)

'Final Judging'

Villages making the Final for judging by Edwin Booth, Chairman of Booths Supermarkets on 20th and 21st August, with Winners announced 14th October at the Presentation Event at Eaves Hall, West Bradford - Full Results (PDF).

Champion Class
Grindleton - WINNER - and Sabden

Large Village Class
Longton - WINNER - and Higher Adlington

Medium Village Class
Newburgh and Waddington - WINNER

Small Village Class
Brindle - WINNER - and Roughlee

Hamlet Class
Little Eccleston - WINNER - and Inglewhite

Urban Community
Ingol - WINNER - and Tanterton

Villages that made it into Second Round Judging

Champion Class: Blacko | Bretherton | Chipping | Grindleton | Sabden
Large Village Class: Adlington Higher | Hambleton | Longton,
Medium Village Class: Goosnargh & Whittingham | Newburgh | Waddington
Small Village Class: Belmont | Brindle | Roughlee | West Bradford
Hamlet Class: Little Eccleston, Inglewhite

Competition Stages

The first round of judging is over period of six weeks from early June to mid July. Villages through to Second Round are notified by the Competition Secretary by the end of July.

Second round judging during the first and second weeks of August, with two in each class put forward for Final Judging (Best in Class). Finalists notified by 15th August.

The Presentation Event where 'Champion Villages' and 'Outstanding Features' awards are announced takes place at Eaves Hall, West Bradford Monday 14th Octorber.

Full Results are circulated and published online immediately after the Presentation Event.

For reference here are the participating villages from last year and the 2023 Results.

 

News: Latest

Having begun in the spring with Judges training sessions and the call for entries, the 2024 competition has now concluded; our Presentation Event took place at Eaves Hall West Bradford 14th October and The Committee is pleased to announce the results for 'Best Kept Village', 'Outstanding Features' and new 'Urban Communities' categories. Results.

Best Kept Village Winners (2024):
Final judged by Edwin Booth, Chairman of Booths Supermarkets.
◆ Champion - Grindleton
◆ Large - Longton
◆ Medium - Waddington
◆ Small - Brindle
◆ Hamlet - Little Eccleston

Urban Community (2024):
◆ Ingol

Outstanding Features (2024):
There were 247 nominated 'Outstanding Features' from Lancashire villages across the 16 categories.

Full Results (PDF).

We would like to thank all the villages taking part this year and look forward to visiting as part of the judging process. As ever we much appreciate all who take part and support this event, especially our Judges, Committee and sponsors.

In 2019 the 'Constitution of the Competition' was updated and streamlined, simplifying all paperwork used by villages and judges; the Certificate of Merit part of the competition was overhauled, replaced by a secondary competition called 'Outstanding Features' - villages entering the main competition able to nominate up to 10 Outstanding Features of their village, and certificates awarded to the best in each class. Ahead of the 2023 competition there was further review of the Constitution, entry and judging criteria and a pilot in place to add a 'Tidy Towns' section - this has evolved to become 'Urban Communities'.

Downloads

Other Information

'10 Lancashire villages that you should visit' Lancashire Life (article)

'10 Most Picturesque Villages in Lancashire' Hotels.com (Go Guide). Visit period drama sets, unique hamlets and areas of outstanding beauty…

Did you know there are regional best kept village competitions across the United Kingdom?

Our thanks to our 2024 sponsors: Barton Grange Group, Eaves Hall Hotel at West Radford, Lancashire Association of Local Councils (LALC).