Culture, Ringwood | Posted on October 17th, 2025 | return to news

Ringwood Society celebrates great design in the town centre

The Ringwood Society’s annual Design and Conservation Awards saw three local businesses receive praise for their projects.

An annual award ceremony celebrating great design in the town of Ringwood has handed out commendations to three local businesses for their residential and commercial work.

On Tuesday 14 October, The Ringwood Society presented its annual Design and Conservation Awards, delivered during the society’s annual Autumn Open Meeting at Greyfriars Community Centre. The Ringwood Society was founded in 1962 and aims to protect Ringwood’s unique character, while the awards were first launched in 1981.

Society chairman and local chartered architect, Alex Bancroft, said: “once again we have had a great crop of projects this year, reminding us of the continuing high standard of new work in the town. The three award-winning projects are particularly gratifying, with these trio being excellent examples of what happens when a dedicated team commits to doing the best job they can for their scheme.”

The Residential Award was handed to Monsreed Limited and Williams Lester Architects for the New Houses at Strides Lane, which replaced a poor-quality former pub car park with residential homes. The change was regarded as a welcome enhancement of the town. The properties are currently available to rent through Grants of Ringwood.

The first of two Commercial Awards went to Colston Trustees Limited, Kennedy’s Southern Limited and Winkle-Bottom Chartered Surveyors for the restoration of Seldown House, 33 High Street. The former home of WH Smith (believed to be the retailer’s smallest high street branch) has been closed since 2021, ending 200 years of a stationary-led business on that site and leaving an unloved building in the hear of the Ringwood.

Following the restoration work, the society was particularly impressed with the repairs to the timber shop front, the careful redecoration of the front elevation and the restoration of the metal framed windows on the first and second floor. The building is currently available to rent to a new business.

The second Commercial Award went to Love to B Skincare and Artful Charlie for the new hand-painted signage at 14 The Furlong Shopping Centre. Love to B appointed a traditional signwriter to revamp their signage, a decision which supports The Ringwood Society’s aim for promoting traditional craftsmanship.

The Design and Conservation awards are sponsored by Lonsdale Wealth Management. Nominations for the 2026

awards are now open, and details of how to nominate a project are available on The Ringwood Society’s website, along with full details of all of this year’s and previous years’ winners: www.ringwoodsociety.org.uk/awards.