Traditionally held in the third week of May, the Devon County Show was held at Home Park, Plymouth in 1925. The Tiverton Gazette reported ‘local successes’ in the many classes. Of particular note, a Tiverton farmer who won the ‘Devon Longwool’ category. There were also Mid-Devon successes in the Dairy Products, butter-making and cheeses. The 2nd, 3rd and 4th prizes in the ‘Caerphilly Cheese’ class were won by ladies from Cullompton and Hemyock. Despite the good weather, attendances at the show, especially on the third ‘popular’ day were disappointing. The Western Morning News said that ‘admission fees are rather high for the average pocket’ and the Gazette agreed that there should be a reduction in price for the 1926 show which would be held in Crediton.

The County Show traces its origins back to 1872 when it was held in Victoria Park, Exeter. It then travelled around the County for many years. It was first held in Tiverton, in 1876, on grounds at Loughborough. It returned in 1897 to the same site now described in the Gazette as 20 acres at ‘Loughborough Fields on Prescott Farm’. The Show visited Tiverton for a third time in 1931.  Devon County Show eventually found its first permanent home at Exhibition Fields, Whipton. In 1990 it moved out to Westpoint, just outside Exeter, where it remains

 Prize Tickets – Devon County Show 1911, Tiverton Show 1924

Opening of the Devon County Show in Tiverton 

This photo has no date in the Museum catalogue. However, from the names, it is clear that this was 1931 when the County Show visited Tiverton for the third time.

Devon County Dairy School

The County Dairy School also travelled around the County and it is thought that this was a group who had completed their course in Tiverton in the late 1920s. Some of the classes at the County Show were exclusively open to girls and women who had attended these Schools.

Museum Volunteer, Sue B

References

British Newspaper Archive    https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/