How It All Started
1819 to 1899On the 3rd of April 1819
Mr Wootten Berkinshaw Thomas of Boythorpe called a meeting of 12
landowners and farmers who met in the Angel Inn, Chesterfield to discuss
the depressed state of farming after the Napoleonic Wars. They decided
to form The Scarsdale and High Peak Agricultural Society with the aim
to campaign for a tax on imported produce and to stage an annual
competition for farmers and breeders of livestock in North Derbyshire.
The
first show was held at the Angel Inn in Chesterfield on 5th July 1819
and had 18 classes for livestock (horses, cattle, sheep and pigs) and 1
for the most industrious farm labourer. The show was well attended and
it was decided the show would alternate between the Angel Inn and the
Rutland Arms in Bakewell.
The early shows have a peculiar
aspect, the judging of “extra stock”, entries that would not qualify for
prize money, entered by the local landed gentry who did not wish to
discourage less wealthy farmers from entering. This in turn led to
sweepstakes and private wagers which were settled by the show judge with
the winner taking the pool.
In 1827 the society changed its
name to Derbyshire Agricultural Society to reflect the increasing
membership from further away. Shortly after this the Duke of Rutland
built a new cattle market in Bakewell and the society decided to move
its show to the more spacious market. This was a time of development of
farm machinery and the society encouraged the demonstration of new
machinery at the yearly show.
In 1836 several of the more
southerly
members established the South Derbyshire Agricultural Society
leading to the parent body once again changing its name to the North
Derbyshire Agricultural Society.
In 1843 several of the more
progressive farmers led by the Furness brothers established the Bakewell
Farmers Club, which met monthly to discuss improvements taking place in
agriculture. They also accumulated an excellent library of books and
periodicals housed in the Rutland Arms for their
members education and
use. In 1849 the Farmer’s Club staged its first show with entries
mainly from the founding
members – the Furness brothers.
By the
mid 1850’s the Bakewell Farmers Club show was so popular that the North
Derbyshire Society changed its name once again to the Chesterfield and
East Derbyshire Society. Since the farmers club was originally part of
the North Derbyshire Society our
history now continues with them. This
period also saw the introduction of poultry to the usual classes, which
required the show to be spilt with the poultry and produce under cover
and the livestock classes continuing in the cattle market.
1878
saw the introduction of the dog show for the first time with 130
entries. The following year the show moved location to what is now
Bakewell recreation ground and took place slightly earlier than usual
resulting in record numbers! 1879 also saw rabbits and geese being
shown for the first time.
In the early 1880’s foot and mouth
decimated the country leading to one of the only three occasions when
Bakewell Show has been cancelled, 1883. However, in 1884 the show was
back and the quality of livestock entered was up. In an effort to
increase the number of entries the date was once again changed to the
first Thursday in September, this however did not work mainly due to
adverse weather conditions.
During the 1890’s the society grew
mainly due the popularity of shire horses and as the decade ended
several changes in the organisational structure occurred with elected
show council
members working to a three year retiring basis, still in
effect today. A merger with Bakewell Horticultural and Industrial
Society was agreed after a one year trial of holding a horticultural
exhibition as part of the annual show.
