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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.

#LancashireDay spent much of the day in the top ten trending subject on X, with a stint at Number One!

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.”

The Shaw and Crompton town crier makes an early start, reading the Lancashire Day Proclamation at 4:30am!
Philip Walsh, Chairman of the Friends of Real Lancashire, with Roland Hailwood, Town crier of Clitheroe, ready for the reading of the Lancashire Day Proclamation.
Town crier Hilary McGrath and the mayor reading the Lancashire Day Proclamation at the market cross in Garstang.
Lancashire Day celebration at Clayton Green Library with the Lancashire proclamation performed by Tony the town crier
Lancashire Day Proclamation and celebration in Read and Simonstone Village Hall
Lancashire Day Proclamation in Great Harwood
The Lancashire Day Proclamation in Chorley
The Lancashire Police Museum in Lancaster Castle held a free quiz to celebrate Lancashire Day.

It’s always great to see local authorities joining in the Lancashire Day celebrations.

The red rose flying above St Helens Town Hall for Lancashire Day
Councillor John Walsh reads the Lancashire Day proclamation in Bolton Town Hall to assembled councillors and friends
Mayor of Bolton, Councillor Andy Morgan, being presented with a red rose to celebrate Lancashire Day by Councillor John Walsh
The Mayor of Rochdale, Cllr Shakil Ahmed, raising the flag for Lancashire Day in Milnrow
The Lancashire flag flying outside Parliament for Lancashire Day

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!

The Warrington Guardian asked the question ‘Should we celebrate even though Warrington is now in Cheshire?’ – the answer from the Comments was YES!!!!!!!!!
The Bury Times asked a similar question. Turned out the answer was just about everyone really!
The Lancashire Federation of WI celebrate Lancashire Day at Southport and Birkdale Sports Club
Lancashire Day being celebrated in Great Dunmow in Essex
Lytham Windmill lit in red to celebrate Lancashire Day
The Leigh and District branch of Soroptimist International celebrate Lancashire Day
Lancastrian Award winner Steve Downie’s certificate

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.

Celebrating Lancashire Day at Mr Gatty’s Tea Room in Elmfield Hall, Accrington
A Lancashire Day pub quiz in the Red Lion in Mawdesley
Lancashire Day celebration in Whittlefield Primary School in Burnley

Happy Lancashire Day from the Deaf Village North West in Blackburn

4 thoughts on “Lancashire Day – 27th Nov 2024

  • It is about time all counties were returned to their historic forms.The present Lancashire is an insult.It takes in part of the West Riding of Yorkshire and dismisses Liverpool ,Manchester etc and the rest of the county palatine.

  • As a Yorkshireman I respect the ancient boundaries with our neighbours Lancashire , Cheshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, County Durham and Westmorland and always refer to their correct geographical names not the 1974 regional council names.

    • Me too. I just wish there was more being done at national level via govt to recognise that. Fat chance of that with this lot though. I badgered Boris about it years ago and nothing was done either.

      It’s really down to us. These faux 1974 boundaries are only there because of pure complacency among the public.

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