Lancashire Best Kept Village Competition

Winners 2017

Lancashire VillageIt is always a pleasure to see the hard work and endeavour that Lancashire villages and their residents put into the competition. The process and independence of our judging ensures fairness and it is great to see individual effort rewarded in the Certificate of Merit categories.

Competition Winners (2017) [class entrants]

  • Champion Village - Blacko (Runner-up - Chipping). [13]
  • Large Village - New Longton (Runner-up - Higher Adlington). [16]
  • Medium Village - Sabden (Runner-up - Mawdesley). [16]
  • Small Village - Grindleton (Runner-up - Clifton). [15]
  • Hamlet - Barley (Runner-up - Roughlee). [15]
  • Most Improved Large Village - Lower Adlington.
  • Most Improved Medium Village - Not awarded this year.
  • Most Improved Small Village/Hamlet - York.
  • Best First-Time Entry - Grindleton.

Lancashire Village Certificate of Merit Winners (2017)

  1. Place of Worship and Grounds.
    Winner: Wrea Green - St. Nicholas
    Runner-up: Inskip with Sowerby - Inskip Baptist Church
    HC: Bilsborrow - St. Hilda's Church
    HC: Clifton - St. John's The Evangelist
    HC: Croston - St. Michael's and All Angels
  2. School and grounds (including Children's Nurseries).
    Winner: Halsall - St. Cuthbert's
    Runner-up: Chipping - St. Mary's
    HC: Goosnargh - Oliverson's School
  3. Village Pub or Inn / Restaurant.
    Winner: Barley - Pendle Inn
    HC: Halsall - Saracen's Head
  4. Public Hall, Community Centre, Institute, Library, Health Centre, Youth Centre.
    Winner: Grindleton - Grindleton Pavilion
    HC: Weeton with Preese - New Village Hall
  5. Public Playing Field/Sports Ground.
    Winner: Chipping - Playing Field
    HC: Blacko - Recreation Ground
  6. Children's Play Area.
    Winner: Freckleton - Play Area Memorial Park
    HC: Elswick - Play Area
  7. Industrial or commercial premises.
    Winner: Sabden - Specialised Auto Services
  8. Shops
    Winner: Blacko - Barber's Shop
  9. Residential / Nursing Home / Sheltered Accommodation.
    Winner: Mawdesley - Stocks Hall
  10. Hotel / Guest House.
    Winner: Chipping Gibbon Bridge
  11. Notice Board.
    Winner: Freckleton
    HC: Blacko
  12. War Memorial.
    Winner: Sabden
    HC: Barley
  13. Bowling Green.
    Winner: Sabden - Sabden Crown Green Bowling Club
    HC: Hurst - Green Bowling Club
  14. Cricket Ground and Surrounds.
    Winner: Mawdesley
  15. Public Garden.
    Winner: Preesall & Knott End - Jubilee Garden
    HC: Whitworth - Memorial Gardens

Results for later competitions >>> here.

 

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).