History
One Village, Three Societies, Over 170 Years
Timeline
170 Years of Westcott Shows
- 1857–1862 · Westcott Floral & Horticultural Society
- 1855–56
The Barclays of Bury Hill give prizes to their estate cottagers for the best-kept gardens.
- Sept 1857
The Westcott District Floral and Horticultural Society is founded, with A. K. Barclay of Bury Hill as President and Charles March of Brooklands as secretary.
- 3 Oct 1857
The first show, in the National School-room.
- 1858–1860
Two shows a year: drought in July 1858, rain all day in September 1860. The 1860 show →
- 11 Oct 1862
The last show we know of. Then the society disappears from the papers.
- 1869
A. K. Barclay of Bury Hill, the society's President, dies after years of ill health. No one takes his place.
- Jul 1884
No show, but the village children carry flowers in procession to Holy Trinity, to be sent to St Thomas's Hospital in London.
- No society, and no show, for almost forty years
- 1900–1914 · Westcott Horticultural Society
- 11 Jul 1900
The vicar calls a meeting at the Reading Room to ask whether the village should hold a flower show.
- 24 Jul 1901
The first show, in a marquee at Bury Hill, with Robert Barclay as President. The 1901 show →
- 1901–1911
Westcott's annual Dahlia Show, forerunner of today's Autumn Show.
- 1913
Robert Barclay of Bury Hill, the society's President since 1901, dies.
- Jul 1914
The fourteenth and last show, at Rookery Farm. The same month Bury Hill is put up for sale, and war follows within weeks.
- 1914–1918
Five of the 36 men on Westcott's war memorial were gardeners by trade. The lost gardeners →
- War, a lost generation, and no Bury Hill to lead: forty years without a show
- 1955–Today · Westcott Gardeners' Club
- Aug 1954
Four villagers stage a flower and vegetable exhibition in St John's Church Hall.
- 4 Oct 1955
Westcott Gardeners' Club is founded at an open meeting, run by its members rather than a big house. Seventy years on, it's still going.
- 28 Jul 1956
The club's first show, at The Hut.
- 1979
The Autumn Show moves to the Reading Room.
- 2027
Grow Make Bake: 170 years since Westcott's first show. The trophies →
History
Show Venues 1857-1914
