Lancashire Day is celebrated each year on 27th November. On this day in 1295 the first elected representatives from Lancashire were called to Westminster by King Edward I to attend what later became known as “The Model Parliament”.
Lancashire Day is the brainchild of our old friends the Friends of Real Lancashire and was first celebrated in 1996. It is a celebration of the historic county palatine: its history; its heritage; its landscapes; its cities, town & villages; and, most of all, its people. It is also the day of which the Friends of Real Lancashire announce the winner of the annual Lancastrian Awards.
Lancashire Day is always one of the biggest county day celebrations and 2024 was certainly no exception. We present some highlights below. See also our Portrait of Lancashire for a guide to this famous county.
As well as the many events that happen on the ground, Lancashire Day has grown to become a huge phenomenon on social media. Whatever else may be happening in the world, #LancashireDay usually manages to trend at No. 1 on X (Twitter) in the UK, as it did again this year.
The Lancashire Day Proclamation is read by town criers throughout the county. This includes:
“Throughout the County Palatine, from the Furness Fells to the River Mersey, from the Irish Sea to the Pennines, this day shall ever mark the people’s pleasure in that excellent distinction – true Lancastrians, proud of the Red Rose and loyal to our Sovereign Duke.”
It’s always great to see local authorities joining in the Lancashire Day celebrations.
Warrington can be said to have suffered as badly as any town from 1974 “county confusion”, having been put (for admin purposes) into a fake “Cheshire” at that time. The Post Office then insisted on addresses being “Cheshire” and the whole tiresome business was foisted upon it. Despite this, the fact that the Warrington Guardian printed this article on Lancashire Day 2024, and the many Lancashire loyalists who have commented on it, shows that county identity persists as admin arrangements come and go. Warrington, still a Lancashire town in 2024!
Lancashire is the first county to have a Poet Laureate ( a great idea that other counties could follow). Stephen Williams wrote this for Lancashire Day 2024.
Happy Lancashire Day from the Deaf Village North West in Blackburn