| Extract from The Kent
Herald, |
| September 26, 1839 |
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Wingham Horticultural and Floral Society; the last exhibition in the season
was held on Friday in the field usually appointed for the show. Owing to the
inclemency of the morning, the attendance was very thin, although the
exhibition was considered to have eclipsed that of any past year. Among the
very few gentry present were W. Hammond, Esq., and family, J. Godfrey,
Esq.,
and family, Captain Swarm, Rev. C. Oxenden etc., etc. The judges having
finished their task by 2 o'clock, the ground was open to subscribers and at 3
o'clock to non-subscribers. Few, however, availed themselves of the
opportunity. |
| (There follows a list of prize-winners, mostly Esq., Lady, Rev., etc
Categories included flowers (pots and cut), fruit and veg., e.g. white grapes,
cob nuts, best bunch of purple grapes forced with fire, brace of cucumbers,
figs, peaches. There follows Cottager Prizes. Categories included basket of
herbs, pumpkin cake of wax, and pot of honey). |
| (There follows a list of prize-winners, mostly Esq., Lady, Rev., etc
Categories included flowers (pots and cut), fruit and veg., e.g. white grapes,
cob nuts, best bunch of purple grapes forced with fire, brace of cucumbers,
figs, peaches. There follows Cottager Prizes. Categories included basket of
herbs, pumpkin cake of wax, and pot of honey). |
| The very excellent band of Wingham was in attendance and played various
airs during the afternoon. On the ground several elegant marquees were placed
for the accommodation of the ladies and gentlemen who attended. We feel sorry
that the inclemency of the weather prevented more from attending. The Cottagers'
Prizes were particularly the theme of admiration, and the rustic swains
appeared proud in vie-ing with each other in rearing the most useful products
of the kitchen garden. |
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| Wingham Flower Show 1932 - 1939
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by Vera Maynard |
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The event was the highlight of the summer, the conversation-piece for weeks
before 'The Day'
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| The sophisticated insecticides and weed-killers of the present day were
unknown. I remember hearing of such things as Jeyes Fluid, Bordeaux mixture, and
saving soapy water from wash-days to spray the roses.
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| The big day arrives - the final decision has been made - the best six uniform
potatoes, the longest runner bean, the largest succulent peas. So all was set
out, including jam jars holding bunches of wild flowers schoolchildren had
walked miles over fields and marshlands to collect. The beautiful flower
arrangements were each allotted a card table, and I recall the afternoon cloths
edged with beautiful lace or crochet work that covered the tables. |
| The show opened at 2 o'clock.
I think all the village attended. Margate
Silver Band played stirring music; melodies from the round-about organ provided at times a
strange discordant harmony. Children's and adult races were run and won, the main event being the tug-of-war, between teams
from various local breweries and other organisations. |
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| The day closed with a dance held at the YMCA
hut |
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