Bakewell Show

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

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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.[citation needed] 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

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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

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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.

References

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  1. ^ "Bakewell Show". Peak District National Park. Archived from the original on 28 June 2014. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
  2. ^ "Heifers dominate Bakewell cattle judging". Farmers Guardian. 7 August 2014. Archived from the original on 12 August 2014. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
  3. ^ "Showground". Bakewell Show. Archived from the original on 6 January 2015. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
  4. ^ "The 20th Century: 1900 to 1999". Bakewell Show. Archived from the original on 6 January 2015. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
  5. ^ "How It All Started: 1819 to 1899". Bakewell Show. Archived from the original on 6 January 2015. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
  6. ^ "Home page". Bakewell Show. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
  7. ^ "Bakewell Show Exhibitors Sign Up". 25 June 2016. Archived from the original on 25 June 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  8. ^ "Events & Farming Attractions - The Bakewell Show". 7 July 2016. Archived from the original on 7 July 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  9. ^ "Trade Stands - Bakewell Show". 6 June 2016. Archived from the original on 6 June 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  10. ^ "Exclusive Patrons Marquee - Bakewell Show". 3 April 2016. Archived from the original on 3 April 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  11. ^ "Be a VIP for the Day - Bakewell Show". 3 April 2016. Archived from the original on 3 April 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  12. ^ "A Modern Show". Bakewell Show. Archived from the original on 6 January 2015. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
  13. ^ "Live traffic updates and weather forecast for 2017 Bakewell Show". DerbyshireLive. 3 August 2017. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  14. ^ "Could it be the end of the historic Bakewell Show?". Derbyshire Times. 8 August 2017.
  15. ^ "Bakewell Show cancelled next year after mudbath mayhem". DerbyshireLive. 26 September 2017. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  16. ^ "Historic Bakewell Show will '˜take a rest' in 2019". Derbyshire Times. 12 December 2018.
  17. ^ Bakewell AHS Events & Competitions Retrieved 6 March 2021
  18. ^ "Where are we now?". Bakewell Agricultural and Horticultural Society. 20 November 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  19. ^ "Bakewell Show set for 2022 return, but not as we know it". DerbyshireLive. 4 July 2021. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  20. ^ "Bakewell AHS launches new website". Bakewell Agricultural and Horticultural Society. 13 August 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  21. ^ "Inaugural Bakewell Country Festival a Success". Bakewell Agricultural and Horticultural Society. 9 August 2022. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  22. ^ "New event Bakewell Country Festival replaces long-running Bakewell Show". Derbyshire times. 8 June 2022.
  23. ^ "Bakewell Country Festival 2023 - Tickets on Sale Now!". Bakewell Agricultural and Horticultural Society. 7 March 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
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