The Show

COURTESY HERTFORDSHIRE COUNTY SHOW & AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY

 The majority of counties hold an agri-fest each year, generally under the auspices of a county agricultural society. In Hertfordshire these events began as ploughing matches and gatherings to explore new farming techniques and principles.  The annual gatherings, usually over a single day, morphed into "explainers", in which visitors were invited to visit a site – usually a spare field – to learn more about agricultural practices and the management of animals; farmers showed off their best and classiest farm breeds; and commercial manufacturers showed off the latest machinery.

The larger these events became the more commercial the attractions became, and single day operation was increasingly costly; most, including Hertfordshire now run for two days and on permanent sites where the infrastructure is built in.  A ploughing match launched Hertfordshire's foray into public demonstrations, with a day set aside in the grounds of Hatfield House, with a wider programme a few years later.  The Hertfordshire Show remained in the vicinity of Hatfield, although the time came to experiment with a travelling show; although a decision was made for a permanent site to be opened for 1962 at Friars Wash.  For such a move Hatfield would have been more central, while Friars Wash was perched close to the Bedfordshire border.

An aero photo survey plane happened to be in the east of St Albans on show day 1953. Tree-
lined Coopers Green Lane slides past Oak Farm – Beech Farm lies on the opposite side of the
lane.  The junction with Sandpit Lane is in the distance.  The large show ring is in the centre,
but absent then are the large car parks!
COURTESY HISTORIC ENGLAND

The buildings of Oak Farm today.  In this shot Coopers Green Lane is on the right.
COURTESY GOOGLE EARTH

During the peripatetic period, 1953, a field was loaned at Oak Farm with its road access along Coopers Green Lane.  The various negotiations required for acquiring a site during the middle of the crop growing season would presumably be complicated and I can only presume an opportunity was available in this particular case with the sale of the farm by Robert Paterson and its acquisition by the aircraft company, de Havilland.

In the period before mass car usage attracting large numbers of paying customers for this one-day show would always be a challenge in the countryside.  Although close to St Albans, the site was distant from main roads which entertained regular bus routes or had the capacity for a sudden surge in traffic movements.  I have no idea whether special buses were laid on from St Albans and Hatfield but such an arrangement would have been a distinct advantage.  Two photographs from the Herts Advertiser suggested there were a number of school visits.

Charles Evans and Peter Mott from their school, thought to be Beaumont.  The name
of the foal was Easter Pride.
COURTESY HERTS ADVERTISER

Children from Gascoyne Cecil School, Hatfield touring the sheep pens.
COURTESY HERTS ADVERTISER

But we should remember that the County Show was a Thursday event close to the May Bank Holiday but still a working weekday.  The notion of using a Saturday (later in more enlightened times Saturday and Sunday) had not yet dawned.  Thursday was also a school day which would have been a further hindrance to family visits.  

I was nine years old at the time and lived within a reasonable distance of the show ground; yet I have no recollection of the Show at Oak Farm.  I can therefore presume that, compared with today, the profile of the event and the publicity surrounding it was less intense than is expected today, although I always recall boards by the verges and field fences along main roads announcing the forthcoming Hertfordshire County Show at ... followed by the date and location.

So, in 1953, it was the turn of the East End of St Albans to host what has probably become the largest annual open air event in the County.

That was sixty-five years ago!  Did you attend then, and have you returned, probably to the permanent show ground, since?

Today's County Shows are as much the presentation of entertainment and big yellow machines, as
it is with animals, competitions and food.
COURTESY HERTFORDSHIRE COUNTY SHOW & AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY