A new photography competition has been launched to celebrate Port Sunlight

A new photography competition has been launched to celebrate the heritage, landscape and people of the unique village of Port Sunlight, often seen as one of the most photogenic villages in the North West.

Photographers of all levels of experience are being invited to submit their snaps taken in and around Port Sunlight, which is one of the finest examples of an industrial worker village in the world.

Port Sunlight is famous for being built by William Lever from 1888 to provide sanitary and beautiful housing for ‘Sunlight Soap’ factory workers. It was recently named as one of the UK’s best towns and villages to visit in a Which? survey of over 9,000 people.

Entries to the Port Sunlight Photographer of the Year competition will be judged by international press photographers Pete Ellis and Bruce Adams, with the winners featuring in a new calendar. There will also be a runner-up prize.

Organised by Port Sunlight Village Trust (PSVT), the competition will help to raise funds for the charity to conserve the village’s significant monuments. This includes one of the largest war memorials in the country, as well as a boating pond which needs repair and is home to a bronze fountain designed by Sir Charles Wheeler, who also designed one of Trafalgar Square’s bronze sculptures.

The competition is open for entries until Monday 15 April, 11.30am (GMT) and costs £15 to enter. Entrants can submit up to four photographs taken since January 2022.

Jean Milton, Director of Heritage at Port Sunlight Village Trust, said:

“Port Sunlight has long attracted photographers thanks to its picturesque architecture and green spaces, and now we want to celebrate that with this new competition. Not only will our Photographer of the Year shine a spotlight on this special village, but the competition will directly support our work to look after Port Sunlight for future generations to enjoy visiting, living and taking photographs here.”

Bruce Adams, competition judge and Board Member of The British Press Photographers’ Association, said:

“Port Sunlight is such unique spot for all visitors and for those privileged to live there. Paul Ellis and myself are really looking forward to judging the entries and seeing what inspiration can be brought from such a special place.”

PSVT has also announced a new exhibition by The British Press Photographers’ Association is coming to the village. Between 8 June – 1 September 2024, ‘Assignments 2024’ will travel from London to Wirral for the first time and will showcase the best of press photography last year.