Royal Agricultural Show in Hoole: Difference between revisions

== The Royal Agricultural Show in Hoole, June 1893<ref>''<small>Cheshire County Records Office; Lancashire County Libraries’ Digital Archive of 19th century newspapers; The National Archives, Kew; and [[The Hoole Millennium Book]]</small>''</ref><ref>''<small>Article researched and written by Monty Mercer, May 2017, Hoole History & Heritage Society</small>''</ref> ==

The Royal Agricultural Show was held in Hoole from 17 – 23 June 1893, the biggest event that has ever taken place in Hoole. It was the Olympics of its time, a national competition and an international exhibition. Regional English cities competed annually for the privilege of hosting the Show. It was similar to a county show, but on a completely different scale 'The New Zealand Herald' called it the “''Premier agricultural event in the world''”.

 

[[File:5LRG2 Royal Pavilion Dining Room.jpg|left|thumb|''<small>The dining room in the Royal Pavilion, partially set for lunch, James H Spencer</small>'']]

Whilst research was being carried out at the National Archives in Kew, important photographs, undisturbed for 120 years, were discovered, of the interior of the Royal Pavilion, taken on the Tuesday of the Show by a hitherto little-known Chester photographer, James Hampson Spencer. His photographs consisted of double images, taken at slightly different angles, as in some of the early experiments in stereoscopic photography. They reveal a sumptuous drawing room and dining room, specially prepared for the Prince of Wales to entertain his honoured guests on the official Meetings Day of the Show.

[[File:5LRG4 Showground Footprint.jpg|left|thumb|''<small>The Showground’s footprint on a plan of modern Hoole</small>'']]

The exhibits included the following stands and stalls: Implements 50, Cheeses 44, Machinery in Motion 12, Poultry 11, Horses 12, Cattle 18, Sheep 8, and Pigs 4.

 

The Show did come to Chester again, in 1925. This time the potential for mud was no bar, and the Hough Green site was chosen – and special railway sidings were built, at Saltney Station.

 

== References ==