The Devon County Show was held in Newton Abbot in 1924. It moved around the County until it found a more permanent home in Exeter on Exhibition Fields, Whipton in 1956. It moved to West Point in 1990.
Devon County Show Newspaper cutting. ‘The Devon County Show opened at Newton Abbot on Tuesday. There was an excellent entry but the attendances were affected by bad weather.’
Archie Tremlett was born in 1891 in Silverton and was to become at least the fourth generation of his family to work as a smith in the village. This medal which he won at the County Show in 1937 is testament to his excellence as a farrier. When his workshop became derelict it was reconstructed in the Museum. Come and pay us a visit and look at the array of tools that a village blacksmith employed.
Archie Tremlett ‘Best Shod Horse’ Medal
Archie Tremlett’s Medal
Smock entered into the craft classes
This smock was entered in one of the craft classes at the County Show.
Although smocking today is used for largely decorative purposes, it was originally used to create some ‘elasticity’ in garments made of stiff material. They were commonly worn by agricultural workers and often made from linen or jute. There were also smocks made for special occasions such as hiring fairs or weddings. We have two examples of ‘countrymen’s smocks’ from the 19th century.
Written and Researched by Museum Volunteer, Sue B