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

Entry deadline has passed and the 2025 competition is under way for 'Best Kept Village', 'Outstanding Features' and fledgling 'Urban Communities' categories - Participating Villages.

We will update you as the competition progresses. Any queries contact the Competition Organiser.

Best Kept Village Winners (in 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.

2024 Results in full.

We look forward to visiting villages over the spring and summer months and wish our villages well with their endeavour. 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).