Rowell Fair Curd Tart
If you’re here for the results of this year’s Competition,
scroll to the foot of the page or click HERE
The Origins of the Rowell Fair Curd Tart
Rowell Fair has always been a time when family members living away returned to their roots to meet their family and friends.
Traditionally, the meal served at Rowell Fair Sunday teatime was boiled ham with salad with Curd Tart to follow. The Curd Tarts are traditionally eaten on the Sunday before the Proclamation of the Fair.
Young housewives learnt the recipes from their mothers, and each family had their own list of ingredients to suit their taste.
The Recipe
Ann Jones, local Rowellian, has now perfected the recipe after feedback from her husband, Walter, who commented: “They’re not like my Mum used to make”. She then discussed it with her Aunt Mabel, after being advised: “Mother always added something from the bottle!”.
The following makes 24 tarts.
- 4oz. (125g) curd or cottage cheese
- 4oz. (125g) currants or mixed fruit
- 1/4 cup of breadcrumbs
- 4oz. (125g) caster sugar
- 2 eggs (beaten)
- Rind of a 1/4 of a lemon
- 2oz. (60g) of butter
- A little ground nutmeg
- A pinch of salt
- 1/2 glass of whisky, sherry, rum or lemon juice
- Homemade shortcrust pastry – you may vary the pastry recipé as you wish
Method
- Soak the fruit overnight in the alcohol or lemon juice
- Line 24 patty tins (deep-sided pie tins) with thin shortcrust pastry
- Cream together the butter, sugar and lemon rind
- Add the beaten eggs, curd cheese, breadcrumbs, fruit, nutmeg and salt
- Put a good teaspoon of the mixture into each patty tin
- Bake in a pre-heated oven at 200℃ (350-400℉, Gas mark 6) for approximately 25 minutes – or, until golden brown
Competition
If you like a good competition, there is an annual event at the Rowell Fair. Here are the details (but do check with Rothwell Arts & Heritage Centre for the latest news).
Rules
All entries for the Rowell Fair Curd Tart Competition must be brought to the Rothwell Arts & Heritage Centre by the advised time on the first Saturday of Fair Week.
You may vary the pastry recipe as you wish.
A first, second and third prize will be awarded for ‘Adults’ and the ‘Under 14s’ for what the judging panel consider the ‘best in show’.
Your entry of SIX Tarts should be presented on a plain white plate (provided).
The judging panel’s decision is final, and it is a condition of entry that ALL Tarts entered in the competition must be donated for sale at the Arts & Heritage Centre immediately after the judging.
Good Luck! 👍
Our thanks to the Arts & Heritage Centre for supplying this information
The Rowell Fair Society works to ensure the heritage and traditions of the Rowell Fair, including our unique Proclamation, are not lost. We are a small group of enthusiastic volunteers who rely heavily on financial support through membership subscriptions, donations, fundraising and the occasional grant. If you have a passion for our traditions (whether you are local or global) and would like to support us, please visit our dedicated page. Thank-you!
The Annual Competition
Rowell Fair Curd Tart Competition 2026
It was a very warm and sunny Saturday on 30th May where at the Rothwell Arts & Heritage Centre preparations were being made for this year’s annual Rowell Fair Curd Tart Competition. Ably assisted by volunteers from the Rowell Fair Society, we waited for this year’s entrants to deliver their Tarts for judging. In 2026, 25 entries were submitted following the tried-and-tested recipe demonstrated by Ann Jones some 13 years ago (see above for the recipe and her video demonstration).
Each entry was allocated a random number so as to ensure no favouritism by the Judges.
Tom Johnson (Rowell Fair Society Committee)
and Brenda Austin (Past Winner of multiple events)
Over the next hour, each collection was thoroughly taste-tested against strict criteria, based on the original recipe.
By 11.30, the Judges had made their decisions, and all Entrants were invited upstairs to the Janet Bassett Gallery to hear the results. By the way, the Gallery has a wide range of pictures on display, why not come take a look?
Sue Johnson (Secretary of the Rowell Fair Society) welcomed everyone to the Gallery. She set the scene for the prize-giving by firstly, thanking those assembled for taking part and helping to keep the old traditions of Rowell alive. She also thanks various groups for supporting the competition including:-
– The Judges
– Rothwell Arts & Heritage Centre with particular thanks to Peter and Teresa
– The Red Lion
– Frank’s Butchers
She then introduced the Prize-giving team.
Cllr. Cedwien Brown (Mayor of Rothwell) and Frank York (Bailiff to the Lord of the Manor)
The Prizes were split into two groups – Under 14s (1st, 2nd and 3rd Prize) and Adults (1st, 2nd and 3rd Prize).
Prizes – Under 14s
Third Prize: Rosette and a £5 Book Voucher
Second Prize: Rosette and a £10 Book Voucher
First Prize: Rosette and a £20 Book Voucher
donated by the Rowell Fair Society
Prizes – Adults
Third Prize: Rosette and a Frank’s Butcher’s voucher of £15
Second Prize: Rosette and a main meal-for-two donated by the Red Lion
First Prize: Rosette and a cash prize of £50 donated by the Rowell Fair Society plus a Silver Salver (inscribed and retained for a year).
Cllr. Cedwien Brown, representing the prize-giving panel met each winner of the Under -14 group and presented them with their prizes as follows:-
Prizes – Under 14s
3rd Prize was awarded to Mogen Sharman (who was unable to be at the prize-giving).
Prizes – Adults
2nd Prize was awarded to Sue Pate (who was unable to be at the prize-giving).
So, for 2026, the results showed a family trend – father and daughter both picking up 1st Prize! We also checked our records and we think Al is the first male to ever win the Competition. If you know different, do drop us a line HERE.
With 2026’s event now over, Rowell Fair badges and pens were distributed to all those present, and as has become a tradition, a photograph was taken by Steve Palmer from the newly-formed Rowell Fair Media Team of all those who were involved in today’s event.
Whilst the Judges probably couldn’t face yet another Curd Tart, the remaining stock was offered for sale downstairs in the Arts & Heritage Centre.
As a historic footnote to today’s event, a surprise item was on show. It was the prize offered back in 2004 to the then Tart Winner, Sheila Turner who has bequeathed it, along with a photograph to Rothwell Arts & Heritage Centre.
With today’s event now over for another year, a few additional ‘Thank-yous’ were in order: The Rowell Fair Society would also like to thank Lisa from Rosettes4youByLisa for the extremely attractive rosettes and the Rothwell Arts & Heritage Centre for co-ordinating the entries and hosting today’s event.
Well done to everyone
who took part
in this year’s
Competition!
See you in 2027!
Click for 2025’s Results
On Saturday 14 June at Rothwell Arts & Heritage Centre we eagerly awaited this year’s entrants for Rothwell’s famous Rowell Fair Curd Tart Competition. Aided by Volunteers from the Rowell Fair Society, the scene was set for this year’s challenge! 👍
By 10.30 the A&HC had saw a total of 26 entries. Each entry, as in previous years, was allocated a random number so that the Judges could be completely impartial.
Sue Johnson (Secretary of the Rowell Fair Society) welcomed everyone to the Janet Bassett Gallery (plenty of local art exhibits that change regularly – come take a look!) and formally announced the event, including, explaining the prizes, the judging process and the timings. Sue then introduced the Judges for 2025. She also thanked everyone for helping to maintain this Rowell tradition that began in 2012.
L to R: Our Judges for 2025 were:-
Sharon Davis (Head Judge)
Cllr. Ash Davies
Cllr. Cedwien Brown
As in previous years, entries were split into TWO categories – the ‘Under 14s’ and ‘Adults’. With a prize for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd in each category.
Prizes – Under 14s
Third Prize: Rosette and a £5 Book Voucher
Second Prize: Rosette and a £10 Book Voucher
First Prize: Rosette and a £20 Book Voucher
all donated by the Rowell Fair Society
Prizes – Adults
Third Prize: Rosette and a cash prize of £10 donated by Oliver’s Bakery
Second Prize: Rosette and a cash prize of £20 donated by the T Room
First Prize: Rosette and a cash prize of £50 donated by the Rowell Fair Society plus a Silver Salver (inscribed and retained for a year).
For the next hour-or-so the Judges sampled the entries (sometimes more than once!) 😉, and just an hour-and-a-quarter later, they had made their decision.
As the crowd gathered eager to hear the results, Sue introduced our guests of honour who would distribute the prizes.
Prize Giving – Under 14s
Prize Giving – Adults
With the competition over for another year, Sue concluded the annual event and gave everyone who took part a Rowell Fair lapel badge – so no-one left empty-handed! As a final gesture, and in keeping with past years of the competition, a group photograph was taken of everyone who was at the prize-giving ceremony.
Sue ended this year’s Competition by thanking everyone for making it such a well-supported event. Additionally, thanks went to our Judges too (who probably never want to look at another Rowell Fair Tart ever again!) 😁👏
Finally, a thank-you as always to our friends and colleagues at the Arts & Heritage Centre for co-ordinating all the entries today and hosting the event – also to Lisa from Rosettes4youByLisa for the stylish rosettes!
Well done to everyone who took part
in 2025’s Competition!
See you again in 2026
Click for 2024’s Results
On a sunny morning on Saturday, 25th May, the Rothwell Arts & Heritage Centre opened its doors to jointly host the annual Rowell Fair Tart Competition for 2024 with the Rowell Fair Society.
The good weather had clearly helped, and by 10.30, it was clear that this was going to be a record year for entries! Many of us remarked that this was the highest number since the Competition began in 2012, totalling 30 entries.
Each entry was assigned a random number so that the judging would be carried out completely ‘blind’.
Sue Johnson welcomed everyone to the Janet Bassett Gallery (plenty of local art exhibits that change regularly – come take a look!) and formally announced the event, including explaining the prizes, the judging process & timings – and finally, introducing the Judges for 2024.
Entries were split into TWO categories – the ‘Under 14s’ and ‘Adults’. With a prize for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd in each category.
The Judging
With our Judges now left alone in the room, they now had the challenging task (especially given the quantity) of carrying out their duties. In spite of the exacting recipe, there was always a small opportunity for variation – especially when ‘something from the bottle’ is an optional extra! The result? A wide selection of looks and tastes!
After a nail-biting 75 minutes, the wait was all over, and a sizeable crowd had now assembled at the Arts & Heritage Centre awaiting the prize giving. As a very pleasurable bonus, our original ‘Queen of Tarts’, Ann Jones dropped-by, as did Rothwell’s new Mayor – Ash Davies – together with Lord of the Manor, Louise Holborow. Bailiff to the Lord of the Manor, Frank York, was also there to lend a hand making the prize giving ceremony feel extra special to everyone involved.
Prizes – Under 14s
Third Prize: £5 Book Voucher
Second Prize: £10 Book Voucher
First Prize: £20 Book Voucher
Donated by the Rowell Fair Society
Prizes –
Third Prize: £10 voucher donated by Frank’s Butchers
Second Prize: £20 voucher donated by Oliver’s Bakery
First Prize: A cash prize of £50 plus the engraved trophy that is retained for a year (donated by the Rowell Fair Society)
Sue then handed over to RFS President, Paul Johnson for the brief history on how the Tart Competition came about and then thanking everyone for contributing to maintain this Rowell tradition. He then formally announced the start of the prize-giving.
Prize Giving – Under 14s
Congratulations to Dice!
Well done, Evelyn and Victoria!
Prize Giving – Adults
3rd Prize was awarded to Jenny Guilford.
2nd Prize was awarded to Nichola Hill (above), but she was at work in Rothwell today. Everyone agreed it would be a great surprise if we took the prize to her! And so we did! With the RFS President and Rothwell Mayor taking the short walk to (of all places!) Oliver’s Bakery, we certainly surprised her – and most of their customers too! Well done, Nichola!!
1st Prize went to a lucky and skilled Hilary Read. She too, missed the prize-giving ceremony. We tracked her down on Proc Monday.
With the competition over for another year, Sue concluded the annual event and gave everyone who took part a Rowell Fair lapel badge – no-one left empty-handed! As a final gesture, and in keeping with past years of the competition, a group photograph was taken of everyone who was at the prize-giving ceremony.
Sue then ended this year’s event by thanking everyone for making this year such a well-supported event. Additionally, our thanks to our Judges too (who probably never want to see another Rowell Fair Tart for quite a while!)
Some extra thanks, as always to the Arts & Heritage Centre for co-ordinating all the entries today, and to Lisa from Rosettes4youByLisa for the superb rosettes – it’s good to support a local organisation.
Thanks to everyone who took part
in this year’s
Competition!
Click for 2023’s Results
On Saturday, 3rd June at 10.30, on a bright sunny day in Rothwell this year’s Judges assembled for the 2023 Rowell Fair Curd Tart Competition, jointly organised by the Arts & Heritage Centre and the Rowell Fair Society.
Entries, as usual, were split into TWO categories – the ‘Under 14s’ and ‘Adults’.
It was interesting to see the slight variation in the look of the finished Tarts, but what really mattered, of course, was the TASTE. After all the entries were displayed and with the Judges armed with knives, forks and serviettes, they were left to blind-taste each one.
An hour-or-so later, decisions had been made! 👏
With contributors invited back to the Arts & Heritage Centre to hear the results, Paul Johnson, President of the RFS, thanked everyone for their support of this fine Rothwell tradition.
Sue Johnson, Secretary of the RFS explained the prize structure and the results were announced with the prize-giving duties happily shared between Paul and Frank York, Bailiff to the Lord of the Manor.
Prizes – Under 14s
Third Prize: £5 Book Voucher
Second Prize: £10 Book Voucher
First Prize: £20 Book Voucher
Congratulations to our under-14 winners – Polly, Amelie and Shelby! 👍👍👍. Frank York also presented the winners with a free-ride voucher each!
Prizes –
Third Prize: £10 voucher donated by Williams Fish Bar
Second Prize: £20 voucher donated by the Charnel House restaurant
First Prize: A cash prize of £35 and an engraved trophy that is retained for a year (donated by the Rowell Fair Society)
3rd Prize was awarded to Kim Foster; 2nd Prize to Sue Alden…
…whilst 1st Prize went to first-time entrant Claire Hagger. Well done Claire, Sue & Kim.
Sue Johnson, on behalf of the RFS, ended the competition by giving every NON-prize winner a unique gift! A bespoke glass, originally commissioned in 2020.
Our thanks, as always, to Ann Jones who provided the recipe and has supported the competition since it began; The Arts & Heritage Centre for hosting and the Judges for giving up their time today.
Well done to everybody who took part! 👍
Click for 2022’s Results
On Saturday, 11th June, the Judges assembled for the Annual Rowell Fair Curd Tart Competition, an event jointly organised by the Arts & Heritage Centre and the Rowell Fair Society. Prizes were presented by Frank York, Bailiff to the Lord of the Manor and Paul Johnson, President of the Rowell Fair Society.
Under 14 category: £20 book voucher donated by the RFS.
Third Prize: £10 voucher donated by Rothwell Bewiched.
Second Prize: A meal voucher donated by The Red Lion.
First Prize: A cash prize of £35 and an engraved trophy that is kept for a year, donated by the Rowell Fair Society (us!)
Our thanks, as always, to Ann Jones who provided the recipe and has supported the competition since it began.