Not even the rain could stop thousands of people flocking to Tractor Fest 2024 at Newby Hall, near Ripon, to see vintage and modern tractors, engines, commercial vehicles, cars, trucks and motorcycles.  

Set in the 12-acre grounds of the grand hall, Tractor Fest attracts more than 12,000 visitors annually and features more than 2,000 vehicles.

Darlington and Stockton Times: Tractors parked up at Newby Hall and Gardens Tractors parked up at Newby Hall and Gardens (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

This year’s show, which took place on Saturday (June 8) and Sunday (June 9) celebrated orange tractors including models from manufacturers Allis Chalmers and Fordson, vintage harvesting and threshing machinery and an exhibition of vintage and modern European cars.   

And for 2024, there were plenty of highlights.

Darlington and Stockton Times: There was everything from vintage tractors to modern machineryThere was everything from vintage tractors to modern machinery (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

From an engine previously owned by the Rothschild-owned Exbury Estate in Hampshire and which played a key part in preparations for the D-Day landings to a vintage Allis Chalmers tractor being restored by a schoolgirl tractor enthusiast in memory of her uncle and local farmer, the late Brian Chester, a founding member of Tractor Fest - there was plenty of fine machinery.

Darlington and Stockton Times: This year's theme was orange tractorsThis year's theme was orange tractors (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

Elsewhere, there was an extensive display of European vintage and modern vehicles, and a fitting tribute to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day landings and pay tribute to the armed forces and Ripon’s military heritage with Ripon Community Poppy Project’s life-sized knitted tank based on a Churchill AVRE tank used in the D-Day landings.

Darlington and Stockton Times: As well as tractors, classic cars and bikes were also front and centreAs well as tractors, classic cars and bikes were also front and centre (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

This event brought The Yorkshire Vintage Association (YVA) together from exhibitors from West Yorkshire, East Yorkshire & Pennine groups coming along, while people travelled from further afield.

Newby Hall is the family home of Mr and Mrs Richard Compton.

It is one of England’s renowned Adam houses and an exceptional example of 18th-century interior decoration.

Built in the 1690s by Sir Christopher Wren, the house was later enlarged and adapted by John Carr and subsequently Robert Adam.

The house is now open to visitors by booking a guided tour. 

Newby’s award-winning gardens, mostly created in the early 1920s, have evolved over the years making a major contribution to 20th-century gardening.