The general store H B Hibbs in Swanage has been voted the best dressed Wild West themed shop window during Swanage Carnival week.
All those who took part in the carnival What’s Not My Line window competition were asked to nominate the shop which best reflected the 2026 theme A Wacky Western in Carnival Canyon, and the store formerly known as Jenkins in lower High Street got the most public votes.
Tom Pearce (centre) receives a certificate and the Julie Wheeldon Memorial Trophy from Swanage Carnival volunteers Lucy Langdon (left) and Hannah Jamieson (right)
“It’s brilliant to win”
The shop, which has been recently stylishly refitted, curated a tasteful display in its side window of Wild West items including bottles of moonshine which it sells in the store.
Manager Tom Pearce said:
“To be voted the winner is completely unexpected as I thought Candleworld across the road would scoop the prize, to be honest.
“We were lucky the theme fitted with things I already had around my house – thank goodness it wasn’t a fishing theme as I’d be useless!
“The wagon wheels were found online and a member of staff happened to have a pitchfork, so it all came together. It’s brilliant to win, so thank you to everyone who voted for us!”
The shop when it was originally H B Hibbs
The shop, pictured here in 2021, was renamed Jenkins in the 1980s
Back to the future – H B Hibbs in 2026
Hibbs family shop
In the 1930s the corner shop was called H B Hibbs after Herbert Bruce Hibbs, popularly known as Bruce, who ran the shop from 1934 until 1982 when his son Neville sold it.
When it changed hands, the name changed to Jenkins but in 2021 the shop was brought back into the Hibbs family when Bruce’s grandson Richard Hibbs bought it along with his son Tom.
At the time of the purchase Tom Hibbs, who is now in New Zealand, said he was keen to restore the shop’s vintage feel and give it back its old name, which he has now done under the management of Tom Pearce.
Candleworld was a worthy runner up
A gem of a display – plenty of votes for Crystals in Station Road
Curiosity, which has beautiful shop window displays all year round, also received lots of nominations
Julie Wheeldon Memorial Trophy
Swanage Carnival volunteers Lucy Langdon and Hannah Jameison organised the competition and were pleased to hand over the Julie Wheeldon Memorial Trophy to Tom Pearce.
Julie Wheeldon was a longstanding carnival committee member and served three terms as Swanage mayor in the 1990s. When she sadly died in 2020, the carnival committee created the trophy in her memory.
Lucy Langdon said:
“This year we asked all those taking part in the What’s Not My Line window competition, where people have to spot the odd item not normally sold by the shop, to nominate their choice for best dressed Wild West window, and the majority voted for H B Hibbs.
“However we must say it was very close between the winner and a number of other Swanage shops including Candleworld, Curiosity, and Crystals, who all had great window displays too.”
Hannah Jamieson added:
“Thank you to all the shops who took part and all those who nominated their favourite window display. We hope you will all get involved again next year!”
Further information
- More about Swanage Carnival
- The history of H B Hibbs
