Leading the field to reach a century

THIS month the Wensleydale Agricultural Show takes place for the 100th time. Since its inception it has been first and foremost a traditional agricultural show and remains so today.

The idea of an agricultural show was first mooted in Leyburn Town Hall at noon on Friday, March 11, 1892.

Farmers in the area thought a show desirable and Lord Bolton was unanimously voted in as president. Several notable vice-presidents whose surnames would be familiar today were elected at the same time.

There is some evidence of an earlier society in 1837, but this appeared to be short-lived as bad weather and the high standard of entries prevented local farmers winning anything.

A motion to abandon the show due to insufficient funds was defeated after a Mr Spencerly wrote to the committee. He would endeavour to obtain sufficient promises of subscriptions and after three weeks the balance stood at £15 14s and the show went ahead.

The first show was held on Wednesday, August 24, 1892, in a low-lying field owned by a Mr Wilkinson at the side of Leyburn Shawl. The weather that morning was described as “not favourable, being cold and windy with overcast skies”, which it was feared, “would not attract large numbers to the show”. In the event, reported the D&S Times, 1,619 persons passed through the turnstiles and “it was noteworthy that of those present there was a large proportion of ladies”.

Visitors flocked to Leyburn by special and ordinary trains, staying all day to peruse the entries, expressing their opinions on the respective merits of the exhibits.

There were two rings set apart, one for the equine, the other sheep and cattle. The total number of entries was 507 made up of: cattle, 83, sheep, 143, horses, 205, sheepdog trials, eight, pigs, five, and farm produce, 58.

Entry to the show was one shilling (5p) and a further 1s 6d (8p) to the enclosure.

Leyburn Brass Band was asked to play and given a £4 fee.

Luncheon was provided by Mr Alderson, landlord of the Bolton Arms, in a large marquee on the showground.

The Hon WT Orde-Powlett presided and toasted “success to the Wensleydale Agricultural Society”, lamenting the fact his father, Lord Bolton, was not present to enjoy the day.

Lord Bolton, at the helm when it all began in 1892

By 1896, prizes for the jumping competition were £5, £3, and £1. However, by 1908 the first prize had been squeezed down to £3. This yardstick was to remain thus for the next 40 years. However, the prize for best Shorthorn cow was a mouthwatering £10 with a silver plate. On the morning of the show, a return train from Hawes to Leyburn was laid on to convey exhibits.

As the storm clouds of the First World War gathered its effects soon reached Wensleydale. A meeting held only days after the declaration of war announced a year’s postponement. They also voted to pay half of the secretary’s salary, which became complicated as the post holder, Mr TR King, was later commissioned as a lieutenant into the Royal Fusiliers serving in France, compelling his father TF King to take over pro tem.

In 1919, the show committee elected to re-instate the show by eight votes to three. The war did, however, provide a sounder financial footing, as members still paid their two guineas subscriptions every year despite no shows being staged.

By the late 1920s, the show had fully recovered. In 1927, now held on a Saturday, it was reported the show was one of the most successful for many years, “restoring some of the splendour of the Dales’ premier exhibition”. The total amount of cash prizes on offer was £330; entertainment was the Rountrees Crystal Palace Band.

At the luncheon, the local MP, Captain Dugdale, used the occasion to take a swipe at the government. He said that despite doing rather well during the war, farming was in a depressed condition. Praise was heaped on the president, Mr T Thornton-Berry, and secretary, Mr Hill, with the 910 entries up on the previous year’s 762. With a world war once again interrupting, by 1949 a renewed show saw 5,000 people come to “one of the finest one-day shows in the north”, now staged in four spacious fields to accommodate 2,000 entries and avoid overcrowding. The numbers of prize-winning stock were so large that the main ring only just accommodated the parade of winners. Mr EBD Johnson of Patrick Brompton delighted the crowds with his commentary and a new section for amateur photographers attracted an entry from 38 adults and 13 children.

This post-war interest soon waned as the financial pressure of increasing costs soon began to tell. In 1964 the D&S reported that an open meeting held to discuss the show revealed only it had £20 to hand to deal with an expected expenditure of £1,500. This was also reflected in the fact the show struggled to find a home, being held at various sites in Leyburn – it was even held at Wensley for several years.

However, the committee running the show eventually placed it on a sound financial footing, which continues today.

In 2001, the year of foot-andmouth, the show was held at Leyburn Auction Mart and the following year it moved to its present home in Bellerby Road.

This also marked a change from a largely agricultural show to today’s format of being coupled with up to date entertainment.

Nowadays, the show still attracts thousands – with over 3,000 entries and 200 trophies up for grabs, it would still be enjoyed by many of the original visitors.

Show president Julie Clarke, who as chairman for four years oversaw some of the changes, said: “We had to move with the times. We have to attract people who want more than just an agricultural show.

Current show president Julie Clarke with items from the past

However I think the show is a popular as it ever was.”

The 100th Wensleydale Show is on Saturday, August 23, 10am -5pm at Leyburn. See wensleydaleshow.org.uk for details.