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| With huge thanks to the flower lady in Tylers, Loughborough's independent department store, for providing such beautiful props! (and to the other half for venturing into town on such a hot Saturday!) |
With the summer well and truly here, the sun shining, gardens blossoming with colour, and allotments ripe with fruit, let’s have a look at the chrysanthemum and celery shows of the early 1880s.
The Loughborough Chrysanthemum Show – which actually included displays of other flowers, and some fruit – was held on Thursday 17th November 1881, and was reported upon in the “Nottinghamshire Guardian” the next day.
“Loughborough
chrysanthemum show
The 7th
annual exhibition in connection with the Loughborough Chrysanthemum and Fruit
Society was held yesterday at the town hall, and proved unusually successful.
In consequence of the prizes offered for competition, there was an unusually
large number of entries, and the exhibits for the most part were equal to, even
if they did not surpass, those shown at any of the previous six shows. Of
course, the chrysanthemums occupied the largest share of attention, and not
without reason, for a more perfect collection of blooms of almost all varieties
it would be difficult to find.
The Reverend
J. Bird succeeded in taking most of the first prizes for chrysanthemums, but he
was run very close by W. Peachy, gardener to Mrs Hole; and in the class for
untrained chrysanthemums he had to be satisfied with second honours. The show
of pompones was a fine one, and resulted in a keen competition, but the prize
for the best group of plants was deservedly gained by J. Cullen.
Among
the fruit were some exceedingly fine apples and pears, and it was not without
trouble that the judges were enabled to give their awards. This they did,
however, in a way which gave general satisfaction, both to the competitors and
the public. The names of the judges were as follows; Mr H. Gadd, gardener at Wollaton
Hall; Mr G. R. Faire, Leicester; and Mr. T. Robert, gardener to Mr Hussey Packe.
The
various exhibits had been carefully arranged around, and in the centre of the
room, and with a number of primulas, and other plants lent for the occasion by
Mr. J Smith, made up a very attractive show. A fine brace of cucumbers were
also staged by Mr E. Warner, not for competition. During the afternoon and
evening, a large number of persons visited the hall, and credit is due to the Secretary
(Mr. F.H. Rowbotham) for the manner in which he, with the committee, has
carried out the whole of the arrangements. The following is the prize list:”
Another Loughborough chrysanthemum and fruit show was held on 17th November 1883, and the “Nottinghamshire Guardian” carried the following report of the event:
“Loughborough
chrysanthemum and fruit show
On
Saturday the ninth annual exhibition in connection with the Loughborough
chrysanthemum and Fruit Society was held in the Corn Exchange town hall. The
show was small, there being scarcely a dozen exhibitors.
In
chrysanthemums the Reverend J. Bird, of Walton, carried off all the principal
prizes, securing as he did the first prize in each class. Mr Maxted, gardener
to Mr J. Griggs, was awarded the first prize for four pompones (distinct
varieties), while Mr. J. Smith secured the first prize for two pompomes.
The most
attractive feature consisted of three groups of miscellaneous plants arranged
in the centre of the room. Two of these groups were shown by Mr Hussey Packe,
of Prestwold, and Mr B. Paget, of Loughborough, not for competition: while the
third was exhibited by Mr Maxted in competition for the prize offered for the
best group of plants not to exceed 4 yards in diameter. This exhibit secured
the second prize.
In the department of cut flowers, the Reverend J. Bird was again the prize-taker. There were some splendid exhibits in the fruit department, the apples and pears commanding considerable attention. For the collection of four dishes of dessert apples (four varieties), and for a dish of desert apples, Reverend J. Bird secured the first prizes, while Messrs J. and H. Hickling, and Mr McLean were awarded the second prizes respectively. For the collection of four dishes of cooking apples, Mr R. Shaw was first, and the Reverend J. Bird second. The dish of six cooking apples shown by Reverend J. Bird were truly magnificent, and just gained the first award. For the collection of four dishes of dessert pears, the first prize was given to Messrs J. and H Hickling, while the prize for the six heaviest pears was received by Mr. J Smith. There were some good exhibits of white and black grapes, the most successful competitors being Mr A. Squires and Mr R. Shaw.”
The same show was reported on in the “Gardeners’ Chronicle” of 24th November 1883, under the heading “Loughborough chrysanthemum”:
This,
the ninth annual show in connection with this Society, was held in the Corn
Exchange on the 17th of the month. The various productions exhibited were of
that generally meritorious character for which the Society has become noted; many
of the blooms, especially in the section for Japanese varieties, were the
largest ever seen in Loughborough, and many of the incurved class measured 5
inches in diameter and nearly as much in depth. The competition in all classes
was of the keenest, making the work of the judges one of some difficulty. Many
of the gentleman's gardeners in the neighbourhood took part in the contests.
The President of the Society, the Reverend John Bird, Walton Rectory, was most
successful in the first four classes for pot-grown specimens, being first in
each.
In the pom
pom classes the most successful competitors were Mr. J Smith and Mr. J. Maxted.
In cut blooms Mr Bird was awarded first for 18 incurved distinct varieties;
second Messrs. J. and H. Hickling; third Mr. J Smith. For 12 incurved Mr Bird
was again first; Mr H. Smith, gardener to Sir W.H. Salt, Bart, second; Messrs. J.
and H. Hickling third. In the competition for 12 blooms, Japanese varieties, first
Mr H. Smith, second Mr Bird. In that for six blooms, Japanese, the results were
similar - first Mr H. Smith, second Mr Bird.
The fruit section of the show contained some excellent samples of grapes by several exhibitors, those of Mr Shaw and Mr Squires being adjudged the best, Messrs. Hickling, Mr. Smith, Mr McLean, Dr. Palmer, and Mr Bird taking prizes in the competition for apples and pears, as well as in the grape classes. The attendance of visitors was very good throughout the day.”
Of course, flower, fruit and vegetable shows were common across the land, not just in Loughborough. With the headline Chrysanthemum and celery exhibition, the “Leicester Chronicle” of 1 st December 1883, covered the chrysanthemum and celery show for Leicester and Leicestershire in the following report, in which several Loughborough folk took part and are mentioned in the report (my bold):
“The fourth
annual exhibition of the Leicester and Leicestershire chrysanthemum and celery
Society was held at the Freemans Arm’s Hotel, Aylestone Road, on Saturday last
[24 November 1883]. The exhibits were staged in the handsome new club room of
the hotel, which added considerably to the success of the show. The exhibits
were decidedly finer and more numerous than last year, the first and second
prize boxes being exceptionally fine blooms, and the judges had some difficulty
in deciding to which they should give the palm.
The
tables were decorated with some fine specimens of statice halfourdi, tarfugium,
variegated aloes, and other plants kindly lent by Mr. J. Yates, and also other
plants by Mr H. Jordan and Mr. J. Sargent. A splendid basket of chrysanthemums
were sent for non-competition by Mr W.C. Burder (1) and Mr. J. Sargent,
and a box of 12 fine blooms were sent through the secretary, Mr L.V Heathcote,
by Mr. J. Wright, gardener to the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple,
London.
A fine
collection of apples, onions, and leeks were also staged for non-competition by
Mr. E. Clayton, Mr W.J. Iliffe, and Mr W. Bell. A box of six Japanese
chrysanthemum blooms was awarded a special prize by the judges to Mr. S. Collett,
the exhibit being of exceptional merit. Mr. J. Burn, of the Abbey Park, and Mr.
Forster, of the cemetery, acted as judges, and their rewards gave great
satisfaction. Credit is due to the secretary, Mr L.V. Heathcote, for the
arrangements of the show and the staging of the exhibits, and the committee are
to be congratulated on the success attending their efforts.
The
following is the prize list:
Chrysanthemums
–
Class
1 (open to all
England), 12 blooms distinct varieties, 1 st the Reverend J. Bird, Walton Rectory
Loughborough; 2 nd Mr. A Parks, Bosworth Hall gardens, 3 rd Messrs. J.&H.
Hickling, Loughborough (2).
Class
2 (amateurs), 12
blooms, distinct varieties, 1 st S. Collett, 2 nd W.J. Iliffe, 3 rd H. Jordan.
Class
3 six blooms,
distinct varieties, 1 st S. Collett, 2 nd Charles Day, 3 rd H. Bell.
Class
4 three blooms,
one variety, 1 st H. Bell, 2 nd S. Collett, 3 rd W.J. Iliffe.
Class
5 three specimen
plants, 1 st John Sargent, 2 nd W.J. Iliffe.
Class
6 premier plant,
1 st W. J. Iliffe.
Class
7 bouquet of
chrysanthemums, 1 st John Yates, 2 nd John Sargent, 3 rd A. Main.
Class
8 celery (three
sticks) 1 st John Yates, 2 nd John Wiggington, 3 rd W.J. lliffe.
Class
9 beat stick, 1
st W.J. Illiffe.”
Later,
in 1887, Loughborough began a dedicated celery show, and the second of these in
1888 took place in the Rose and Crown pub on Baxter Gate. However, it wasn’t
actually just dedicated to celery, and there were also prizes given for leeks,
red cabbage, cauliflower and collections of vegetables. The third annual show
was held at the Station Hotel (now a funeral parlour and flats) on the corner
of Station Street and Derby Road (I thought I'd blogged about this building, but I've now remembered I wrote about it in "Secret Loughborough").
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| Thanks to the stallholders on Loughborough's 800-year-old market for the props (and to the other half for venturing into town on such a hot Saturday!) |
I wonder if these groups were in any way associated with the Loughborough Agricultural Association, which was set up in 1838? There is certainly an element of flower, fruit and vegetable shows held as part of larger shows, like the Leicestershire Show (at one time held in the field at Dishley) and the Sutton Bonington Show (short report tops, and a few pictures tail this post about the cemetery chapels), alongside, things like the showing of animals, handicrafts, baking and various events. Hoping these will soon make a return to our calendar.
Notes
(1) in 1881 Walter Chapman Burder, horticultural builder employing 65 men and 10 boys, was living at 153 Park Road. He was the owner of Messengers, and would later move to Field House.
(2) John and Henry Hickling are listed in a trade directory for 1887 as being seedsmen and nurserymen at 14 Bedford Street.
Posted by lynneaboutloughborough 18 July 2021
You are welcome to quote passages from any of my posts, with appropriate credit. The correct citation for this looks as follow:
Lynne
