August is the season of ‘Flower Shows’ and the reports in the Gazette cover at least one full page and sometimes more.  In 1923, Broadhembury opened its 16th show while Plymtree held its first. They were pleased to welcome over 700 visitors and judging took place in 77 classes. Although many were called ‘Flower Shows’, some were just ‘Shows’ and Silverton boasted a 14th ‘Horticultural Show’. The latter was probably more accurate as they all included a wide variety of classes to be judged including not only flowers and plants but vegetables and dairy produce.

Kentisbeare and Blackborough Garden Society held its 21st show and Culmstock its 29th. ‘There seems to be something in the Culmstock soil which nourishes, in particular, the onion and the potato’!

The weather always gets a mention. In 1923, on the whole, it seemed quite favourable although Stoodleigh wasn’t so lucky with the third show in a row suffering some disruption. Stoodleigh held its first show in 1898 and we have a photo of the occasion in our collection but unfortunately it is not clear enough to reproduce here.

Most of the shows also included sports, both on foot and on horseback. There were a number unknown to most today including the rather mysterious ‘Bun and Ginger Beer’ race. There were two extra classes of egg and spoon race in Bampton – ‘for ladies’ and ‘on horseback’!

We have very few records of the early flower shows. This one shows attendees at the Bampton Flower Show in 1912.

There are a number of glass negatives which may relate to the 1920s but they are waiting to be digitised and dated. However we do have a number of prize certificates.

This more recent programme from the Tiverton Garden Club’s Show in 1972 shows the huge number of classes to be judged and is not dissimilar to the earlier village shows.

Written by museum volunteer, Sue B