Bakewell Show Explained

The Bakewell Show was an agricultural show held annually in August at Bakewell, Derbyshire, England between 1819 and 2017.[1] [2] It is organised by the Bakewell Agricultural and Horticultural Society. The show has its own permanent show ground in Bakewell, where other events are held throughout the year.[3]

History

The Scarsdale and High Peak Agricultural Society was founded in 1819 and held the first show in Chesterfield on 5 July 1819. In 1827 the society was renamed the Derbyshire Agricultural Society, and over the years the organisation running the show took various names until acquiring its current name in 1929. In 1980 the show became a two-day event.[4] [5] The 2015 event was the 185th show, 196 years after the first.[6]

Over the years the Bakewell show grew to include a farmers market, horticulture, equestrian events and competitions including mounted games, showjumping; displays and competitions of dogs, cattle, sheep, goats, and other animals, vintage vehicles, cheese and meats;[7] traders and craft stalls, bands, and theatre; and displays such as Royal Signals Motorcycle Display Team,[8] with up to 60,000 people attending.[9] In addition to standard tickets, Patrons and VIP ticket holders had access to dedicated ring side grandstand seating and hospitality.[10] [11]

Cancelled Shows

The 1883 show was cancelled because of foot and mouth disease, and shows were cancelled 1915 to 1918 and 1940 to 1945 due to war, 2018 due to the previous years bad weather, and 2020 to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2001 the show went ahead despite another foot and mouth epidemic, but included no animals.[12]

Demise

The 2017 show was beset by bad weather leading to much of the ground turning to mud and cancelling many of the shows events, particularly on the second day.[13] Concerns were immediately raised that the events may lead to the end of the show.[14] The decision was made to take 2018 off to allow the ground time to heal, with the hope to return in 2019.[15] However, the show did not return in full in 2019,[16] rather a smaller one-day Farm to Plate event was held to celebrate the 200th anniversary. Due to return as a two-day event, the show scheduled for 8 and 9 August 2020 together with other events were cancelled due to restrictions associated with COVID-19,[17] and was not held again in 2021.

The organisers, Bakewell Agricultural and Horticultural Society, wanted to get back to its roots with further events to follow the 2019 format more closely,[18] [19] adopting a new website focusing on the societies name, rather than operating as the Bakewell Show Office.[20] From 2022 the Bakewell Agricultural and Horticultural Society ran a new one-day event, the Bakewell Country Festival[21] [22] in July instead of August, with the aim to run the new format in the future, fully replacing the Bakewell Show.[23] The new event repeated in 2023 and 2024, relegating the Bakewell Show to history.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Bakewell Show . Peak District National Park . 10 August 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140628223507/http://peakdistrict.gov.uk/learning-about/forthcomingevents/bakewell-show . 28 June 2014 . dmy .
  2. Web site: Heifers dominate Bakewell cattle judging . https://archive.today/20140812031247/http://www.farmersguardian.com/shows-and-sales/shows/heifers-dominate-bakewell-cattle-judging/66610.article . dead . 12 August 2014 . Farmers Guardian . 10 August 2014 . 7 August 2014 .
  3. Web site: Showground. Bakewell Show. 10 August 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20150106102913/http://www.bakewellshow.org/showground-c6.html. 6 January 2015. dead.
  4. Web site: The 20th Century: 1900 to 1999 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150106130018/http://www.bakewellshow.org/evolution-1900-to-1999-c20.html . 6 January 2015 . 10 August 2014 . Bakewell Show.
  5. Web site: How It All Started: 1819 to 1899 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150106125838/http://www.bakewellshow.org/how-we-started-1819-to-1899-c18.html . 6 January 2015 . 10 August 2014 . Bakewell Show.
  6. Web site: Home page . 10 August 2014 . Bakewell Show.
  7. Web site: 2016-06-25 . Bakewell Show Exhibitors Sign Up . 2023-08-18 . 25 June 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160625162500/http://www.bakewellshow.org/exhibitors . bot: unknown .
  8. Web site: 2016-07-07 . Events & Farming Attractions - The Bakewell Show . 2023-08-18 . 7 July 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160707224451/http://www.bakewellshow.org/attractions . bot: unknown .
  9. Web site: 2016-06-06 . Trade Stands - Bakewell Show . 2023-08-18 . 6 June 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160606083810/http://www.bakewellshow.org/trade/ . bot: unknown .
  10. Web site: 2016-04-03 . Exclusive Patrons Marquee - Bakewell Show . 2023-08-18 . 3 April 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160403045650/http://www.bakewellshow.org/patrons/ . bot: unknown .
  11. Web site: 2016-04-03 . Be a VIP for the Day - Bakewell Show . 2023-08-18 . 3 April 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160403045713/http://www.bakewellshow.org/vip-experience/ . bot: unknown .
  12. Web site: A Modern Show. Bakewell Show. 10 August 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20150106130044/http://www.bakewellshow.org/modern-show-2000-to-present-c21.html. 6 January 2015. dead.
  13. News: 2017-08-03 . Live traffic updates and weather forecast for 2017 Bakewell Show . en-GB . DerbyshireLive . 2023-08-18 . 0307-1235.
  14. News: 8 August 2017 . Could it be the end of the historic Bakewell Show? . Derbyshire Times .
  15. News: 2017-09-26 . Bakewell Show cancelled next year after mudbath mayhem . en-GB . DerbyshireLive . 2023-08-18 . 0307-1235.
  16. News: 12 December 2018 . Historic Bakewell Show will '˜take a rest' in 2019 . Derbyshire Times .
  17. https://www.bakewellahs.co.uk/ Bakewell AHS Events & Competitions
  18. Web site: 2020-11-20 . Where are we now? . 2023-08-18 . Bakewell Agricultural and Horticultural Society . en.
  19. News: 2021-07-04 . Bakewell Show set for 2022 return, but not as we know it . en-GB . DerbyshireLive . 2023-08-18 . 0307-1235.
  20. Web site: 2020-08-13 . Bakewell AHS launches new website . 2023-08-18 . Bakewell Agricultural and Horticultural Society . en.
  21. Web site: 2022-08-09 . Inaugural Bakewell Country Festival a Success . 2023-08-18 . Bakewell Agricultural and Horticultural Society . en.
  22. News: 8 June 2022 . New event Bakewell Country Festival replaces long-running Bakewell Show . Derbyshire times .
  23. Web site: 2023-03-07 . Bakewell Country Festival 2023 - Tickets on Sale Now! . 2023-08-18 . Bakewell Agricultural and Horticultural Society . en.