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The
Newark Agricultural Society
was formed in 1799 to be replaced 69 years
later, in 1868, by the Newark & District Show Society.
It was a thriving Society with well attended and successful
Shows. It was also one of the oldest in the country, preceded
only by two, Manchester in 1796, and Liverpool in 1797.
Agricultural Societies were being formed throughout the
country on the recommendation of the then Board of Agriculture,
a forerunner of what is the present Dept of Environment,
Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). |
The
first show to be staged at Newark grew out of the centuries
old Newark May Fair and among the older generations it is
still referred to as such. It was originally organised by
'interested local people' and for the first two years it was
a one day affair. In stark comparison to the large number
of trophies now existing there were just two in those early
days - both presented by local trades people and both of them
for sheep.
COUNTY NAME
The Nottinghamshire Society was established
in 1878 and being of County status its show originally moved
around the County, coming to Newark once, in 1887. In 1937
however, it settled in Wollaton Park where it stayed until
the eventual amalgamation of the two Societies. The Shows
staged by the Newark & District Agricultural Society, with
its entrepreneurial spirit flourished but a decline of interest
in the County event was to cause the Failure of the Nottinghamshire
Society. Faced with failure and inevitable closure, it was
amalgamated, or some may arguably say, rescued, in 1958, by
Newark & District which took over the County responsibilities
and with them adopted the town and county title by which it
is know today. Mixed reactions greeted the 1989 decision to
drop the word Newark from the Show title to become the Nottinghamshire
County Show, although Newark remained part of the Society's
name.
FIRST MAJOR
SHOW
That the Show has always been held in early
May, making it the first major agricultural Show of the season
in England, is an acknowledgement to the original May Fair.
'Newark Show' has enjoyed several venues. Sconce Hills from
1877 until 1939. Winthorpe Park, the old Winthorpe Airfield
and in earlier times, Cross Keys Paddock on Balderton Road,
now London Rd, where in 1870, two years after the first Show,
it became a two day event. The Annual report for 1952 - 1953
records the purchase of the 160 acres Balderfield Farm, which
was conveniently adjacent to the A1, South of Newark.
The
purchase was never developed and the land subsequently sold.
Instead, in 1964, the Show Society bought, for £20,000, some
200 acres of what was formerly Winthorpe Airfield. With the
philanthropic generosity for which he was noted, Sheffield
Steel magnate, Sir Stuart Goodwin, a very good friend to the
Society, declined to make any contribution towards the purchase
price but promised that when the Society raised that purchase
price, he would give a similar sum for the development of
the site. And so he did. Two years later, in 1966, the first
Show was held in 1982. Shows were not staged during the two
World Wars and several years were also missed due to animal
diseases, a coal strike in 1921and the general strike in 1926.
Seventy six of those shows were promoted by the Newark Society
and the remainder under the amalgamated title.
Presidents
of the Society have reflected the industry of the area. Names
like Branston, Gilstrap, Cherry-Downes reflected brewing and
notable names from farming in the county included Platt, Dennison,
Sheldon, Forman-Hardy, Hollingworth, Hallam, Fillingham and
Pentecost to list but a few. Industry and commerce representatives
have also been well to the fore. Neither has the Newark based
Show been without its titled patronage. Earl Manvers, The
Marquis of Titchfield, Lord Barnby and Lady Anne Bentinck
all held office as President.
FIRE DESTROYS
BUILDING
It was a fateful morning in April 1993 when
fire engulfed the members pavilion and much of the Society's
office accommodation. In less than an hour the single storey
cedar wood structure was burnt to the ground.- only a month
prior to the Show. Hard work by staff and volunteers cleared
the site and a marquee, in hastily landscaped surroundings,
gave visitors little idea of the catastrophe which, without
such hard work and dedication, could have been a much more
serious setback The Newark & Nottinghamshire was one of the
last major Show societies to purchase its own Showground but
its development is probably faster than many others.
SIR STUART
GOODWIN & CEDRIC FORD PAVILION
The 1993 fire was setback, but not one from
which the Society shrank. Just a year later a new brick built
members pavilion replaced the cedar wood structure. In 1994,
work started on another major new building which was given
the name 'The Cedric Ford Pavilion' after the President of
that year, to acknowledge his outstanding work on behalf of
the Society. This new pavilion, together with the newly rebuilt
Sir Stuart Goodwin Pavilion, makes the Showground one of the
best corporate entertaining and function facilities in the
County, capable of accommodating up to 500 guests at exhibitions,
conferences banquets and receptions, etc. as well as providing
the catering hub for the Annual Show.
FEW
SECRETARIES
During its long history, the Society has had
few secretaries. Between 1926 and 1996 only two families held
the post. In 1926, farmer and schoolmaster James Crocker was
secretary followed by his son H J "Jack" Crocker from 1951
to 1969 when Neville Armitage and his wife Ann were uniquely
appointed joint secretaries.
In 1996
they retired, after 27 years service, former army officer
Adrian Johnston was appointed to the new post of Chief Executive
with the task of bringing the Society up to date and producing
a plan to take it to the next millennium and beyond.
The
Society is now set to take it's place as a major contributor
to the district's economy. Among its activities is a commitment
to education in Agriculture, which is exemplified by the involvement
it has with our local schools, particularly at the County
Show. What started all those years ago, in 1868, as a good
idea between friends, with just a few sheep and cattle has
now developed into a big business and a major venue for events
and other activities within the region.
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