Historian Martyn Taylor looks back at the Royal Agricultural Show of 1867, in Bury St Edmunds

It had been decided in 1864 that from July 10-19 July 1867, the Royal Agricultural Society Show was to be held in Bury St Edmunds.

This was to allow preparation of the site, which was a monumental task.

Because of an outbreak of rinderpest (similar to distemper), a disease that primarily infected cattle, the Royal Agricultural Show of 1866 was cancelled. Subsequently, thanks to decades-long international campaigns, this has been the first animal disease to be eradicated. However, a noticeable absentee in Bury was that of ‘beasts’, cattle being excluded because of what was described as a murrain in some parts of the country – possibly still rinderpest or even foot and mouth.

The honour to host this prestigious agricultural show came about thanks to the lobbying of local brewer and farmer Edward Greene.

The large site of some 42 acres was owned by Thomas Taylor to the north-east of Grange Farm (more or less where Eastern Way is today), so named after its ownership by the abbey.

Owing to its closeness to the Sudbury to Bury Great Eastern Railway Company rail line, a spur was run off, though not affecting Eastgate station.

A grand entrance (as pictured) welcomed attendees to the 282 stands, with 4,804 exhibits.

As was common with all of these type of shows, various animals and poultry were judged as to the excellence of their breed. Some prize-winning exhibit owners were given watches courtesy of Collis jewellers of 20, Abbeygate Street, advertising they were proud to supply these.

Due to the increase of technology there was a marked increase shown in the interest of new farm machinery.

Firms such as Clayton, Shuttleworth and Co, Ransome and Sims, Garretts, Burrells and E R and F Turner were some of the manufacturers keen to show off their latest achievements in the production of static steam engines and traction engines – there had already been test trials of these steam engine behemoths.

Threshing and hay-making were to the fore, the latter doing the work of scores of pitch-fork wielding farm labourers in a fraction of the time.

Ploughing was still in its infancy so fixed steam engines at opposite ends of a field with a long belt pulling a plough steered by a man was to be used. Not all technology had eradicated the usage of human application!

Though modern farming was just arriving it was not 100 per cent reliable, breakdowns still an unfortunate part.

As a showpiece for farmers from across the country, the show was a complete success for the manufacturers of farming equipment with local well-known agricultural machinery manufacturers Robert Boby keen to promote their self-cleaning corn screen.

Initially the weather was unkind, with the first few days of the show reserved for judging and for potential buyers to spend. One notable purchaser was the Viceroy of Egypt, who turned up impromptu, bought 40 steam cultivators (weed removers) and then was gone in a blink of an eye.

From July 15, the public could wander around the many exhibits, their interest unhindered. There was even an orchestra to entertain people.

To keep everybody informed as to what was going on, the Bury Free Press was published each day after July 15, price 1d. Circulation then was in Suffolk, Norfolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire.

The show itself was a great success, bringing in large numbers of visitors by buggy, cart, waggon, horseback, rail or just on foot. A footpath from Northgate Station is shown on the map.

Mayor George Harvey Nunn was pleased this was such a colossal achievement, because an estimated 33,000 people attended, created an enormous logistical nightmare in how to feed and accommodate the visitors. Locals even opened their doors, becoming bed and breakfasts overnight.

It seemed the streets of the town, bedecked with flags, were thronged for the duration of the show’s nine days. There was even a fete held in the Abbey Gardens for the enjoyment of all.

Comments were made that this ‘Royal Show’ was the best ever, especially when, on the last day, the entrance fee was reduced to one shilling – all and sundry turning up in their droves.

At the same time the agricultural show was on the Royal Horticultural Show took place at the Vinefields, a temporary bridge spanning the River Lark.

Plants were sent for the exhibition from far and wide, amateur gardeners among the professionals. Prizes for the best gardens in the area were given not unsurprisingly to the local great and good, the Cullums and Herveys among them.

All in all, it was a wonderful week for Bury.