The St Ives Flower Show 1883 must have been some event! Whilst our own 2012 show managed almost 500 exhibits, 130 years ago there were more than that for the rose classes alone! And no wonder, with prizes as high £5, equivalent to £350 in today's money. You can read a transcript of the article written about the 1883 show below, or to read transcripts of other years including searchable winner lists, click here.
The programme and entry form for the St Ives Flower & Produce Show 2013, to be held in the Corn Exchange on Saturday 31 August, are now available from the HRAA web site.
ST. IVES HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.
ANNUAL FLOWER SHOW
The eighth show of this society took place on Thursday last, and again in the grounds of Henry Goodman, Esq., who is also once more mayor of St. Ives on the occasion. Contrary to frequent experience in the life of local institutions in the town, the horticultural society has not only improved with each succeeding year, but in its annual show has come to occupy the position not many years since filled by the Huntingdon show. The society had died out, but notwithstanding the superior advantages of the county town in its surroundings, the cattle market centre has deservedly obtained the first place in this department of social glories.
After the heavy rains of late, not to forget a very rainy St. Swithin’s on Sunday, a fine day was regretfully longed for as a thing not to be depended upon. Then in the morning of Thursday a brilliant opening was followed by one or tow lowering showers, and the prospect of a wet day appeared within very measurable distance. However, as the morning advanced things improved. The sky became clearer, and bursts of sunshine heralded a very fine afternoon. The attendance during the aristocratic hours of the afternoon was not so large as we have seen it, but embraced the elite of the town and district society. Ladies vied with each other in the worship of the Goddess Fashion, and no more prettier or graceful picture could be witnessed under any conditions here or elsewhere.
The practical arrangements were very similar to those of recent years, only that the extension of the open rose classes led to a separate tent being not only desirable but necessary. The exhibits numbered over five hundred blooms, and as a rose show alone far surpassed those of previous years, and would bear competition with any provincial show of the kind. This arrangement led to the amateurs’ tent looking more sparsely filled than usual - the tent itself being larger - but there was a collection of material adorning the long stands which any town might well be proud of. In every branch, vegetables, flowers, fruit, and decorations, there was an excellent all round show, the competition being close and of a high order. The appearance of the benches elicited general wonder, admiration and pleasure, and that large class of persons who garden to amuse and not to profit deserve the praise and congratulations of the towns people. The tent was enriched by the contributions of several gentlemen, or their gardeners, “not for competition”, altogether presenting a scene which any town ought to be proud of.
The staple of the show, after all, was the Cottagers’ tent. Whatever the design of an exhibition of this kind, the groundwork rests in a desire to promote the extension of gardening pursuits amongst the body of people. And this year the competitors have far exceeded the standard reached in any previous show. The rose tent was more magnificent and showy, but it would be difficult to find a parallel for the display offered by that section of the population anomalously termed “cottagers”. The large tent was filled with a sharply contested lot of products. Winners of previous years have been surprised at the extended competition, to their own failure. Vegetables are usually fine, and also the fruit classes. The flowers staged exhibited a great advance in careful culture and increased experience in their rearing and attention paid them. Mr Morley’s model at the entrance to the tent was much admired by all visitors.
In the same tent was shown the bird classes, and there were numerous entires, some very fine birds being exhibited, the Harrisons again being conspicuous, and in which Joe Golding also secured three prizes.
Numerous friends contributed to the appearance of the show by staging plants, flowers, fruit &c., “not for competition.” Mr. Barton Giddins in this respect did his best, and again Mr. C. E. Atherton, florist of Chatteris, staged some excellent flowers and plants. In one tent was a dish of scarlet runners grown by Mr. W. Burgess, of a very fine appearance. It would be impossible with the very short time at our disposal to enumerate all such contributions, but it is necessary to refer to it as showing the utmost kindness and courtesy from all quarters, and also a general desire to see the exhibition eminently successful.
The afternoon attendance embraced a very select and distinguished company, but scarcely so numerous as last year. After the free hour, five o’clock, there at once poured in a stream of visitors, which continued all the evening. Such a crowd has never before been witnessed at these shows, and indeed it was so great that it was next to impossible to get in, and still more impossible to get out of, any of the tents. After seven o’clock the main attraction was dancing, which took place in the lawn tennis enclosure, entrance to which was made a charge by the committee. Some slight objection to this fee was again made, but without reason, as with such an immense crowd dancing otherwise would have been a physical impossibility. As it was, the enclosure approached very near to being crowded, but under the guidance of Mr. G. P. Wadsworth as M. C., whose urbanity and courtesy, though strongly tested, did not fail him, a very capital dance was enjoyed by the numerous votaries to that popular pastime. At dusk the ballroom - if that is not correct it is at least understood - was lighted up by Chinese lanterns, under the management of Mr. Seward, and the effect was charmingly pretty. What with lanterns and fireworks Mr. Seward had a most arduous and difficult task before him, but there was not a single hitch anywhere. Meantime the general company promenaded the grounds where they were not fortunate enough to obtain one of the few seats provided. The day turned out a most brilliantly fine one, after the threatening shower of the morning, the night being exceedingly fair.
In the rose tent there was a magnificent display of blooms. One could almost fancy himself at the summer show in the Botanic, and, but for the glare of light, under the nave in the Crystal Palace. Few or none county shows could equal the picture to be seen in this tent. Competition was not only general but very close, still we must give exceptional attention to the exhibits of Messrs. Paul and Son, Cheshunt, whose beautiful first’s in the 12’s and 24’s excited universal admiration, as being far beyond anything else shown. Notwithstanding this, there were some remarkably good roses, and beyond those enumerated in the prize list, Messrs. Atherton, Gall, Lindsell, Fredgett, Frere, &c., combined to produce a show the like of which St. Ives has never before held up to the world. To keep up this department of a popular show ought to be a special object with the management. Without it, Mr. W. King would be like Othello, “his occupation gone,” who looks so carefully and gracefully to the distribution of roses after the show, and the show would certainly miss him very much.
The band, from thriving Kettering, did not at all spoil the show. They marched through the town on arrival, and from then to the National Anthem worked most defatigably, and what is more, their music is worth listening to. Mr. J. Foster has done well with his team since he was here last.
It is impossible to do justice to every department where time is a sine qua non, but the most important section of a public festival must not be neglected. Mrs. and Mr. Chas. Stiles, junr., again had sole charge of the refreshments tent. In the afternoon it looked as though anyone might attend to it, but when the crush of the evening came it was simply wonderful how the ever-changing crowd could be served. The rush at times was overwhelming, but the manager and mangeress bit come of good business stock, and there was nothing left to be desired in the control of this very important department.
At dusk the most important business was the fireworks. These, once more, were entrusted to what in a special committee would be termed ‘our dearly beloved’ Seward. Opinions were slightly varied : a very few thought the display not so good; other few blamed the brilliant moonlight; but we say, and that is the principal thing, no better display of fireworks was ever witnessed in St. Ives, and we have had some good ones. Two or three of the set pieces were more perfect in detail of construction and effect than we have ever seen, and there were not many present who saw the peace celebration fireworks on Primrose Hill in ’56. The fireworks were instituted by Mayor Goodman years ago, and he has paid for them every year until he is again Mayor.
The management - and it could not be better - again has been in the same hands. Mr. Chapman governed the Amateurs, and Mr. Hankin the Cottagers, while Mr. Copley, as Secretary, ruled with his practical knowledge everything. The committee worked well as a band of Stewards, so are to be congratulated. We could not say more if it was St. Neots under the rule of Mr. Ratchelous.
We should take to remark upon other features worthy of note, but can not roll back time any more than Canute did the tide.
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