Since it is the season of Flower Shows (including the Largo and Newburn Horticultural Society's Show last weekend), here's a quick dip into such events held in days gone-by. The Largo Horticultural Society's Annual Exhibition was clearly a highlight of the social calendar in the 19th century with large attendances and an abundance of entries into a wide range of classes. The above advert is for the 1870 show at Keil's Den, as run in the Fife Herald of 4 August. The 1895 event (this time held at Largo House) was written up in detail in the 16 August Courier - here's a small extract....
"The weather was beautiful and a large number visitors passed through the Eagle Gates. During the afternoon the Mars Training Ship, under the leadership of Mr Yettes, discoursed a splendid programme of music. At 2 o'clock the show was opened by Sheriff Lees, Edinburgh, who is at present residing at Westhall. The marquee was replete with a rare collection of fruit, flowers, vegetables, &c. On the whole, the show was admittedly one of the best that the Society has ever held."
The event took place at a range of venues over the years. Interestingly by 1906, the summer visitors were claiming their share of the credit for the success of the event. As the Edinburgh Evening News reported on 25 August...
"Lundin Links was today the venue for the annual show of the Largo Horticultural Society. Alongside the same event has grown up a series of sports, &c, largely through the agency of Edinburgh visitors. The show was scarcely so extensive a few years ago, but the games draw out the patrons."
I'm quite certain that locals were just as instrumental in the event's popularity as the visitors, if not more so. Anyhow, over the years the array of activities within the show seemed to expand and soon alongside the many classes of fruits, vegetables, plants and flowers, were other sections like needlework and baking. The 'sports' over the years included races, tug of war, treasure hunts, 'pillow fights', the 'slow cycle race' and the mind-boggling 'musical chairs on cycles'! For children was the less exciting 'best penmanship' competition.
"The weather was beautiful and a large number visitors passed through the Eagle Gates. During the afternoon the Mars Training Ship, under the leadership of Mr Yettes, discoursed a splendid programme of music. At 2 o'clock the show was opened by Sheriff Lees, Edinburgh, who is at present residing at Westhall. The marquee was replete with a rare collection of fruit, flowers, vegetables, &c. On the whole, the show was admittedly one of the best that the Society has ever held."
The event took place at a range of venues over the years. Interestingly by 1906, the summer visitors were claiming their share of the credit for the success of the event. As the Edinburgh Evening News reported on 25 August...
"Lundin Links was today the venue for the annual show of the Largo Horticultural Society. Alongside the same event has grown up a series of sports, &c, largely through the agency of Edinburgh visitors. The show was scarcely so extensive a few years ago, but the games draw out the patrons."
I'm quite certain that locals were just as instrumental in the event's popularity as the visitors, if not more so. Anyhow, over the years the array of activities within the show seemed to expand and soon alongside the many classes of fruits, vegetables, plants and flowers, were other sections like needlework and baking. The 'sports' over the years included races, tug of war, treasure hunts, 'pillow fights', the 'slow cycle race' and the mind-boggling 'musical chairs on cycles'! For children was the less exciting 'best penmanship' competition.
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