Kent County Show
Encyclopedia
The Kent County Show is an event hosted annually by the Kent County Agricultural Society at their Kent Showground
headquarters at Detling
near Maidstone
in Kent
, England
. The event is primarily an agricultural show
, showcasing the produce of Kent farmers alongside a livestock show and various other attractions such as demonstrations of traditional skills like blacksmith
ery and displays from the Royal Artillery
.
First held in 1929, the show remains the shop window for rural Kent life, attracting around 100,000 visitors each year.
This led to the very first Kent County Show being held that year at Wombwell Park in Gravesend
. The show was declared by Gravesend's mayor of the time as "the greatest advertisement the town had been privileged to enjoy."
The official programme listed details of a band and smoking concerts with a sports gala and carnival as a Saturday night grand finale. There were 833 livestock entries and 15,000 people turned out to watch the prize cattle, sheep, pigs, and horses take the rosettes.
The first county show turned out not to be profitable and the Society relocated the event to Ashford
in 1924. This year marked the first royal attendee when Prince Henry
visited to peruse the livestock. This time, the event turned a profit.
In 1927, the county show moved on to Knole Park in Sevenoaks
. Up to the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, a three-day Show was held in various parts of the County. In the years immediately preceding WWII it was held at Canterbury
before then moving to Mote Park
in Maidstone
. From 1939 to 1945 it was cancelled as Kent farmers agreed that they needed to focus their energies on producing food for the nation.
After the war the event was restarted. From 1947–1963 two-day shows were held at Mote Park. In 1949 Winston Churchill
arrived personally in Maidstone to collect his rosette and cup for breeding the first prize winner in a 'cow in calf' category at his farm in Westerham
.
A permanent site, now known as the Kent Showground
, was acquired in Detling
in time for the 1964 Show. The show has been held annually there ever since.
Other royal visitors have since followed in Prince Henry's footsteps. In 1973 Princess Anne
paid a visit. At the 50th anniversary of the show in 1979, another Duke of Gloucester, Prince Richard
, cut the ribbon and for the diamond anniversary the Queen
herself saw the agricultural pride of Kent with the Duke of Edinburgh
.
In 2004, the Duke of Kent
enjoyed the newly built Kent pavilion to celebrate the 75th anniversary.
The 2009 show saw Prince Edward
and the Countess of Wessex visit to salute the 80th holding of the show.
Kent Showground
The Kent Showground, formerly known as the Kent County Showground is an area of land in Detling, Kent, England, north of the county town of Maidstone...
headquarters at Detling
Detling
Detling is a village and civil parish in the Borough of Maidstone in Kent, England. The parish is located on the slope of the North Downs, north east of Maidstone, and on the Pilgrims' Way....
near Maidstone
Maidstone
Maidstone is the county town of Kent, England, south-east of London. The River Medway runs through the centre of the town linking Maidstone to Rochester and the Thames Estuary. Historically, the river was a source and route for much of the town's trade. Maidstone was the centre of the agricultural...
in Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The event is primarily an agricultural show
Agricultural show
An agricultural show is a public event showcasing the equipment, animals, sports and recreation associated with agriculture and animal husbandry. The largest comprise a livestock show , a trade fair, competitions, and entertainment...
, showcasing the produce of Kent farmers alongside a livestock show and various other attractions such as demonstrations of traditional skills like blacksmith
Blacksmith
A blacksmith is a person who creates objects from wrought iron or steel by forging the metal; that is, by using tools to hammer, bend, and cut...
ery and displays from the Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
.
First held in 1929, the show remains the shop window for rural Kent life, attracting around 100,000 visitors each year.
History
The Kent County Agricultural Society was formed in 1923 with the amalgamation of the Mid Kent and East Kent Show Societies. The Society’s primary objective was to host an annual agricultural show.This led to the very first Kent County Show being held that year at Wombwell Park in Gravesend
Gravesend, Kent
Gravesend is a town in northwest Kent, England, on the south bank of the Thames, opposite Tilbury in Essex. It is the administrative town of the Borough of Gravesham and, because of its geographical position, has always had an important role to play in the history and communications of this part of...
. The show was declared by Gravesend's mayor of the time as "the greatest advertisement the town had been privileged to enjoy."
The official programme listed details of a band and smoking concerts with a sports gala and carnival as a Saturday night grand finale. There were 833 livestock entries and 15,000 people turned out to watch the prize cattle, sheep, pigs, and horses take the rosettes.
The first county show turned out not to be profitable and the Society relocated the event to Ashford
Ashford, Kent
Ashford is a town in the borough of Ashford in Kent, England. In 2005 it was voted the fourth best place to live in the United Kingdom. It lies on the Great Stour river, the M20 motorway, and the South Eastern Main Line and High Speed 1 railways. Its agricultural market is one of the most...
in 1924. This year marked the first royal attendee when Prince Henry
Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester
The Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester was a soldier and member of the British Royal Family, the third son of George V of the United Kingdom and Queen Mary....
visited to peruse the livestock. This time, the event turned a profit.
In 1927, the county show moved on to Knole Park in Sevenoaks
Sevenoaks
Sevenoaks is a commuter town situated on the London fringe of west Kent, England, some 20 miles south-east of Charing Cross, on one of the principal commuter rail lines from the capital...
. Up to the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, a three-day Show was held in various parts of the County. In the years immediately preceding WWII it was held at Canterbury
Canterbury
Canterbury is a historic English cathedral city, which lies at the heart of the City of Canterbury, a district of Kent in South East England. It lies on the River Stour....
before then moving to Mote Park
Mote Park
Mote Park is a 180 hectare multi-use public park in Maidstone, Kent. Previously a country estate it was converted to landscaped park land at the end of the 18th century before becoming a municipal park. It includes the former stately home Mote House together with a miniature railway, pitch and putt...
in Maidstone
Maidstone
Maidstone is the county town of Kent, England, south-east of London. The River Medway runs through the centre of the town linking Maidstone to Rochester and the Thames Estuary. Historically, the river was a source and route for much of the town's trade. Maidstone was the centre of the agricultural...
. From 1939 to 1945 it was cancelled as Kent farmers agreed that they needed to focus their energies on producing food for the nation.
After the war the event was restarted. From 1947–1963 two-day shows were held at Mote Park. In 1949 Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
arrived personally in Maidstone to collect his rosette and cup for breeding the first prize winner in a 'cow in calf' category at his farm in Westerham
Westerham
Westerham is a town and civil parish in the Sevenoaks District of Kent, in South East England with 5,000 people. The parish is south of the North Downs, ten miles west of Sevenoaks. It covers 5800 acres . It is recorded as early as the 9th century, and was mentioned in the Domesday Book in a...
.
A permanent site, now known as the Kent Showground
Kent Showground
The Kent Showground, formerly known as the Kent County Showground is an area of land in Detling, Kent, England, north of the county town of Maidstone...
, was acquired in Detling
Detling
Detling is a village and civil parish in the Borough of Maidstone in Kent, England. The parish is located on the slope of the North Downs, north east of Maidstone, and on the Pilgrims' Way....
in time for the 1964 Show. The show has been held annually there ever since.
Other royal visitors have since followed in Prince Henry's footsteps. In 1973 Princess Anne
Anne, Princess Royal
Princess Anne, Princess Royal , is the only daughter of Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...
paid a visit. At the 50th anniversary of the show in 1979, another Duke of Gloucester, Prince Richard
Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester
Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester is a member of the British Royal Family. Prince Richard is the youngest grandchild of King George V and Queen Mary. He has been Duke of Gloucester since his father's death in 1974. He is currently 20th in the line of succession...
, cut the ribbon and for the diamond anniversary the Queen
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
herself saw the agricultural pride of Kent with the Duke of Edinburgh
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh is the husband of Elizabeth II. He is the United Kingdom's longest-serving consort and the oldest serving spouse of a reigning British monarch....
.
In 2004, the Duke of Kent
Prince Edward, Duke of Kent
The Duke of Kent graduated from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst on 29 July 1955 as a Second Lieutenant in the Royal Scots Greys, the beginning of a military career that would last over 20 years. He was promoted to captain on 29 July 1961. The Duke of Kent saw service in Hong Kong from 1962–63...
enjoyed the newly built Kent pavilion to celebrate the 75th anniversary.
The 2009 show saw Prince Edward
Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex
Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex KG GCVO is the third son and fourth child of Elizabeth II and The Duke of Edinburgh...
and the Countess of Wessex visit to salute the 80th holding of the show.