A Short History of the Birstwith Show
by: Mary Garside 1993
Forward by Geoffrey Smith
My first contact with Birstwith Horticultural Society came about more or less by accident. I just happened to meet the Show Secretary when he was looking for a replacement for one of the judges in the vegetable section who had given a late backword.
From that casual first encounter there developed a relationship which has lasted over thirty years or more. As a result, I am convinced that in spite of changing fashions, Birstwith Horticultural Society has succeeded in preserving and maintaining a traditional village show which is still, in effect, the highlight of the local gardener's year.
That it includes all those qualities which ensure its ongoing prosperity is confirmed by the number of people who attend each summer. The formula is well proven, with all modifications made as part of an evolutionary process, not change simply for the sake of change.
On a personal note, I remember with real pleasure the annual garden quiz. Those hard fought contests between the Ripon and Birstwith Societies which were so enjoyable a part of the winter programme.
The History
The history of Birstwith Show starts when, in 1867, eight Birstwith men collected £4.11.3d in subscriptions from 59 local people. Encouraged by this, the group, chaired by the Vicar, Rev. George Hales, planned the first show. This was held on Friday, July 25th in the National School Room at 1.30 p.m. and was heralded by the ringing of the church bells. We must conclude that the show was a success, as a sum of £10 .14. l0d was later banked.
The population at the 1861 census was 625 (compared to 521 in 1992) and important developments had taken place in the preceding years. The Greenwood family were well established at Swarcliffe Hall, and John Greenwood had extended the house further and improved the seven acres of \ pleasure gardens and grounds first established by his grandfather. In 1857, St. James Church was completed and and five years later the North Eastern Railway Company opened the Ripley to Pateley Bridge line. This last event improved the mobility of the inhabitants of Nidderdale greatly and encouraged support for the Show from a wide area, soon extending to Ripon, Knaresborough and Leeds.
1868 The 2nd Show was held in a tent in a field loaned by John Greenwood. Apart from the entries, plants, flowers, designs and stuffed birds were loaned for the day to decorate the tent. In addition, Birstwith Brass Band was hired and a bird show was held. The judge had 15 classes to deal with:- canaries, parrots, parakeets, foreign and English caged birds, turtle doves, rabbits, guinea pigs, white mice and goldfish. His fee was 6s. 4d.
In preparation for the next show, Robert Farnhill, a local joiner, made four tables and thirty-three trestles. He was paid 14/-d. for three and a half days labour and 7/-d. for timber.
1869 The 3rd Show, which remained the pattern for many years had 91 classes. Of these, four were for children and consisted of British ferns and grasses, wild flowers and fruits. Later a class for flower decorated hat or cap was added. The classes for amateur and cottage gardeners were for plants, flowers, fruit and vegetables. In the plants section were balsams, calceolaria, ferns, fuschia and geraniums - which are still shown. Flower classes were made up of roses, dahlias, carnations, pinks, pansies, sweet williams and hollyhocks. Such a collection conjures up pictures of the colourful informality of the cottage garden compared to the neat manicured flower beds fashionable today. Among the 34 classes for vegetables were plates of mustard and cress, eschalots English and foreign, mushrooms and herbs. The lifestyle of the period was reflected in the classes for honey, eggs (hen, turkey and duck) and pairs of spring chickens and ducks killed and dressed. (No trips to the supermarket in those days! ) A Punch and Judy show was hired and a small profit made.
1870 At the request of friends, classes for those living out of the village were included and were exhibited and judged separately. Later farmers classes were added for heads of wheat, oats and barley, turnips and field potatoes. A chance was given for the professional and gentlemen's gardeners to shine. They could enter trays of fruit, vegetables, cut roses or flowers and a bouquet. Each year, special prizes were offered by benefactors. One year, a gold pencil case was given for the best bouquet of wild flowers exhibited by a Birstwith lady. Competition was keen and in 1874 the average number of entries in the cut flower classes was 16. Two years later, Mrs. Greenwood offered prizes for floral crosses and wreaths for graves. (One class for adults and one for girls under 12).
In the early years, the tent was hired from Samuel Stone of Leeds. It would be transported by train and an employee would accompany it and stay in Birstwith until its return to Leeds. The first one measured 3Oft x I 2ft and Woods Mill loaned their waggon and horses (and later their steam waggon) to carry it to the Show ground.
That the seventies saw growth and success is evident and despite an occasional year of loss, a comfortable cash balance was taken into the eighties.
1880's During this period, few changes were made to the schedule but classes for grapes and butter making were added. A competition for the best kept garden was introduced. The Committee concentrated their efforts on providing other attractions such as donkey racing and a tug of war. An extra tent was provided one year for an exhibition of bee appliances and a lecture on bee culture.
Birstwith Flower Show from Birstwith Parish Magazine December
1892
as described to Mr.Punch in a letter from "Arry at Arrygate"
Had a day at a village called Birstwith, the most truly rural'est scene;
Hollow down among hill, don't you know ancient trees and a jolly big green.
Regular old Rip-van-Winkleish spot, such as Caldecott ought to have sketched;
Though I ain't noways nuts on the pastoral, even yours truly was fetched.
Pretty sight and no error old pal! T'was a grand "Agricultural Show;"
So the "Programme of Sports" told the public; Fruit, flowers, and live poultry, you know. Big markee, and a range of old hen-coops, sports niggers, a smart local band.
Cottage gardening, cheese, roosters, and races! Rum mix, but I gave it a hand.
I do like to encourage the joskins-one thing though was fiddle-de-dee.
They had a "Refreshment Tent" Charlee,
Oh my! Ginger ale and weak tea!
Nothing stronger, old pal, s'elp me bob! Fancy me flopping down on a form,
A-munching plum-putty, and lapping Bohea as was not even warm.
The Vicar in his end of Show Speech regretted that the Show and cricket match were not nearer to one another. In 1883, Sports were introduced offering cash prizes. Despite all efforts, by 1886, there had been three consecutive years of loss. It was decided not to hold a show that year and to seek further attractions in the future to ensure a successful financial outcome.
The 20th Show was the only one to be held in Swarcliffe Park. This was the year in which bread making was introduced. A large proportion of housewives would make their ownbread and the 15/-d. offered as 1st. prize, by Mrs. Greenwood, would be a real windfall in those days.
The last show of the 80's must have been a very colourful and grand affair. It was held on the cricket field, which was to be the Show site for 24 years. For the 2nd year running, Captain and Mrs. Greenwood entertained men from the 10th Royal Hussars, the Captain's own regiment. 155 men, wives and families travelled from York by special train. Their band entertained during the day and their presence resulted in a record attendance of around 600 people.
1890's After a day of disastrous weather in 1890, the Show was cancelled
for the following year. The 24th Show bounced back with a poultry section
which had 9 classes for different breeds; Brahma, Cochin, Minorca, Leghorn,
Orpington, Hamburgh, Game and Bantam. There was a special prize for best
cock and hen in show.
The sports, organized by a separate committee, were as popular as ever. Biddy
Brown's grandfather would 'cycle 20 miles from Topcliffe just to take part
in them! By this time handsome prizes were being offered. Marble clocks,
silver-plated teaspoons, cruets, walking sticks, cigar case, teapot,
were all there to be won. Our President George Gill, still has the carving
set won by his father.
The obstacle race was a marathon in itself. After negotiating numerous sacks,
tubs, sheets, high bars and low bars, the competitor finally ate a bun, swallowed
a bottle of ginger beer and walked a plank with a wheelbarrow - backwards.
On the horticultural side, head gardeners from the many local estates would be invited to judge. Each of them had up to twenty gardeners under them and would themselves have spent a lifetime in training in every aspect of their craft. On a typical show day, judging was completed in the morning after which judges would take their lunch at the Station Hotel. Peter Taylor the landlord charged 2 /6d for the meal and 5 / -d for 3 gallons of beer for the men on the field. Peter was also a plumber and his invoices were headed "Hot and Cold Baths fitted up" . The marquee was open to the public from 2 - 7 p.m., after which an auction of any exhibits donated would be held. This would be followed by dancing until dark, accompanied by the band.
Despite all this activity, there were two or three other attractions each year. A miniature circus; Black and White Minstrels; the Jeromes on the Roman Rings; Alto and Alfrano on the horizontal bars; Harrogate Prize Glee Society, to name a few. In 1895 "an immense amount of fun was offered" by a competition for greasy pole walking over the river. The prize was a live pig worth 30/-d. Perhaps too many suffered a soaking and didn't relish a second dunking, as the competition was not repeated. The following year boating was an attraction. One can imagine being a passenger on the train as it pulled out of Birstwith and headed for Pateley. On a fine summer's day, the view of all the activities across the river set against a background of hills, woodlands and meadows must have been a picture.
Captain and Mrs. Greenwood entertained a large party of relatives and friends and provided a tent for their own use. Towards the end of the decade the Show was patronized by a wide area.
1900 The 31st Show added more classes for honey and black and white grapes. Mr. F. T. Wood offered a prize for brown bread. Mr. Wood was treasurer at that time and was to hold the post for twenty five years. Capt. Greenwood gave £20 in prizes for the showing of agricultural horses and cattle. After judging, a parade of the animals took place. Perhaps it was due to lack of space that these classes were only held for two years. In 1902 the Show was held later than usual to allow for the celebrations of the coronation of Edward Vll. New ideas were tried from time to time including a 10 mile walk from Pateley Bridge to the field and 5 circuits of the track. When donkey races were revived there was one young man who unfailingly won his race. Eventually, the judges handicapped him by sending him twice round the track, but he still won. His secret was to fill a pocket with marbles. When the race started, he rattled the marbles which frightened the poor donkey so much that he wouldn't stop until the noise stopped Back in the tent, a class was held for a circular display of plants. Each competitor was allowed an 8 ft. diameter space so the result must have been spectacular. One first prize display was made up of crotons, liliums, coleus, verbenas and caladiums.
1904 The show that year, held on August 4th, was dominated by the BIRSTWITH HAMPER SCANDAL. MrJohn Milner was a wheelwright and joiner who made and repaired carts and hired out a hearse and waggonettes for funerals.
"The day before the show and increasingly on the day itself , he heard rumours that he had been seen with a friend, Mr S. Lawson at 2 a.m. on the 4th handling a very large hamper from his cart. His enquiries eventually led him to a Mr JR. Wharton who maintained that he himself saw the trap go out. The inference being that Mr Milner was collecting vegetables to exhibit at the show]. Mr Wharton refused to retract and apologise. A solicitor's letter to him was ignored but before Mr Milner took the matter to court, he consulted Captain Greenwood, who suggested that the committee should meet to sort out the business. Eventually Mrs Milncr was also included in the scandal. It was said that she was there also at 2 am. and that a blanket had been placed over the pony as a blind! By August 28th, no meeting had been arranged and in a long letter to the committee Mr Milncr outlines his case....
On the night of August 3rd Mr Barker had asked for the loan of the pony and trap to collect his wife and some friends from Nidd Station. The letter protested Mr Milner's innocence and named 3 witnesses. The matter dragged on into the following year, and in replying to an invitation to the annual meeting in March Mr Milner wrote a long and bitter letter condemning the unkind remarks made at a previous meeting and spelling out all the efforts he had made on the society's behalf over a period of 25 years.
Mr Milner maintained that there were committee members who had supplied Mr Wharton with vegetables to show in previous years, and queried why Captain Greenwood's advice had not been followed up. He then issued a challenge, offering to deposit £20 if any other would do the same, and be prepared to show a collection of vegetables. The loser would hand his £20 to the Society funds, the winner would get his £20 back. Their gardens would be inspected twice before the show. No one took up the offer.
In a final letter to the Society, he wrote that he wished to have nothing more to do with them, as they preferred to support a dishonest man, rather than an honest one. He also gave them some parting advice.
This was that the pages of rules in the schedule might as well be blank, as they are never carried out, and if the money continued to he spent in the same reckless way as last year, 4 years hence would see the Society up at Pateley Workhouse!
Mr Wharton was not so inclined to put pen to paper and we have just one short note written to the Society to say that if a special meeting were called, he would like to attend to prove his accusations. Despite all the acrimony that ensued, the men must have made some efforts at reconciliation. A Mr R. Wharton appeared on the list of committee members that year, and Mr Milner's name remained until 1912, the last show before World War 1.
That the Show was a popular event is proved by a poster for 1910. This advertised an excursion train from Bradford to Birstwith. The 42nd Show in 1912 was the last before the First World War. However, the following year, prizes were given for the best cottage garden. The first prize went to Robert Ewbank who was sexton, bellringer and a member of the band, and who died soon after winning his prize
THE REVIVAL
1920's In February 1925 a general meeting was held in the schoolroom to sound out the feelings of the village on the re-opening of the Show. It was agreed that the 43rd Show be held on a small scale and be open to residents of Birstwith only. In the event, the Show was held on the cricket field. Tenders were invited for the hire of marquee, catering and a band. Speedings of Sunderland provided a 75ft. x 3Oft. tent, plus a small refreshment tent and the Summer-bridge and Dacre Silver Band played from 2 to 8 p.m. The schedule was based on the previous show of 1912 and there were 93 classes. The Show was a great success, starting the year with £3-8s-1 1. in the bank and ending with £40-14s-5d
The following year, Mr. Arthur Clarke and Mr. George Gill were elected to the sports committee. Mr. Clarke clearly remembers walking to the Show from his home at Burnt Yates when he was eight years old. He was to serve as chairman from 1951 - 1956 and recalls the times when members worked all through Friday night to prepare the marquee for the Show.
Once again, Mr. Fawcett was called in to make more tables and trestles. Almost every year new classes were added. Messrs. F. T . Wood offered prizes for an open bread class to be made from Harvest Queen Hour; 1st prize 40/-d. The following year table decorations were included. Entries were rising and the marquee had to be extended to l00ft. x 30ft. One latrine was provided for the ladies. A homemade bandstand was constructed using barrels, planks and brown hessian.
In 1928 there was a class for tomatoes and Mrs. Greenwood substituted her
class for white bread with 6 new classes for local residents. These were
for teacakes, scones and queen cakes, madeira, fruit and decorated iced cake.
The bread classes became very popular and by 1930 there were 21 entries for
brown bread and 39 entries for white.
In the early 30's Mrs. Gladys Calvert was encouraged by Arthur Ewbank to
enter her brown bread. "Get your rolling pin to it and bang it well before
it goes in the tin" he advised. Gladys followed his advice and won 1st prize
that year. When her two sons were very small she journeyed to the show by
train from Hampsthwaite, putting her pram in the guards van.
Mrs. Atkins of Hampsthwaite is the daughter of the late Mr. Charles Hawkes who was head gardener at Ripley Castle. Joined by his friend, Mr. Jackson of Nidd Hall, the two men would 'cycle to Birstwith to judge the horticulture section. On his return home, he would often tell his family of the number of entries for cakes and how keen the ladies were to win - and not only the ladies. One year, for reasons of economy, Capt. Greenwood instructed his gardeners not to heat the greenhouse containing the vines. The Ingleby's won first prize for grapes so the heat went back on at Swarcliffe the following year.
Mr. Hawkes of Ripley played several instruments in a dance band and if engaged to play at Birstwith often didn't arrive home until 6.00 am. As soon as the dance came to an end the dancers would have a "whip round" until they had enough to pay the band for another 2 hours. This would be repeated until either their energy or their cash was exhausted. When he was playing the violin, Mr. Hawkes would place a wad of silk under his chin, but he still ended up with a very sore chin the next day.
By 1929 entries for farm produce had become so poor that the classes were abandoned. Later, best home fed side of bacon and best home fed ham were added. The Show was much enlivened by motor cycle events. With a lady on the pillion, musical chairs was attempted . Races included long jump, balloon busting, riding a greasy plank and a half-mile race. Inter school sports were popular with each school wearing its own colours. Bands came from as far afield as Hull and Selby. Ferns and wild fruits were replaced in the children's' section by drawing and painting.
Throughout the 30's the show continued to be a struggle financially. From 1928 to 1938 the balance in hand dropped from £82-17s.-5d. to £45-2s.-7d. The 1939 show made a profit of £16, so a reasonable sum was left in the account throughout the war years.