If you wanted to conjure up an image in your mind of all that is special in the quintessential British village, the village green would have to be close to the top of your list. No village is truly complete without this focal point at its centre; it is usually the most visible landmark in the village, save perhaps the church.
To qualify as a village green, the land must be common land and have been used by the members of the local community for legitimate sports and pastimes by right for at least 20 years. These pastimes typically include cricket, village fetes, walking the dog and even blackberry picking. Historically, the land may well have been used for common grazing and in some cases may have served as the location for more sinister things such as lynching, whippings and the village stocks. Today, few village greens retain memorials to such times. Although the village of Gretton in Northamptonshire still retains its stocks and whipping posts on its green. Most villages prefer to preserve more positive aspects of their village life through the conservation of the village green. Many provide benches and other facilities to encourage people to tarry awhile and enjoy the tranquillity of the village green.
One of the classic uses for the village green is the annual village fete . For many villages this is the high point of the year. Typically, it will take the form of a collection of stalls and marquees, where the locals will sell some of their garden produce, home baking and even arts and crafts. Tombolas and other games of chance are a must to complete the picture; along perhaps with flower and vegetable shows. These shows are often keenly contested for the coveted village first prize; an annual opportunity to get one over on any rivals in your village! For some it is indeed the pinnacle of their year; to win first prize being just reward for their toil throughout the rest of the year in their gardens. For the loser, however, it means disappointment another year of hard work and brooding before their chance comes to reassert themselves.
The village green is not exclusive to Britain. But, in order to paint an accurate picture of life in a British village, it is important to understand the essential role played by the village green in helping to retain the unity and identity that has long existed in British villages.
More British Institutions
Afternoon Tea
Allotments
April Fools Day
Big Ben
Binge Drinking
Black Cabs
Bonfire Night
British Sense of Humour
Brown Windsor Soup
Burns Night
Cadburys
Castles
Changing the Guard
City of London
Coronation Street
Cowes Week
Cricket
Crufts
Dad’s Army
E-Type Jag
Eccentricity
English Country Garden
Fish and Chips
Fish Fingers
Fox Hunting
Full English Breakfast
Gin and Tonic
Glastonbury
Glorious Goodwood
Grand National
Grouse Shooting
Harrods
Highland Games
Hogmanay
James Bond
John Bull
King Arthur
Land Rover
Lloyds of London
London to Brighton Veteran Car Rally
Marks and Spencer
Monty Python
Morecambe and Wise
Old School Tie
Oxbridge
Panto
Picnics
Pimms
Point-to-Point
Punch and Judy
Queueing
Real Ale
Red Arrows
Red Telephone Boxes
Remembrance Poppies
Robin Hood
Rolls Royce
Royal Ascot
Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo
Savile Row Suits
School Discos
School Sports Day
Seaside Piers
Speakers’ Corner
Stag Nights
Stiff Upper Lip
Strawberries and Cream
Street Markets
Summer Festivals
Sunday Roasts
The Archers
The BBC
The Beano
The Boat Race
The Brass Band
The British Bobby
The Bulldog
The Church of England
The Cup Final
The Curry House
The English Rose
The Garden Shed
The Honours System
The Kilt
The Last Night at the Proms
The London Bus
The Mini
The National Trust
The NHS
The Oak
The Pub
The Queen’s Speech
The Rolling Stones
The Royal Christmas Message
The Spitfire
The V Sign
The Village Fete
The Weather
Travelling Fairs
Trooping the Colour
Village Greens
Wedgwood
Wellington Boots
Wimbledon
Wine Gums
Yeomen of the Guard
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