Monmouthshire Show facts for kids
The Monmouthshire Show is a really big and exciting one-day event in Wales. It's the largest agricultural show of its kind! Every year, it takes place in the town of Monmouth on the first Saturday in July. It's a day full of fun, animals, and learning about farming.
How the Show Started
The idea for the Monmouthshire Show began a long time ago, back in the 1790s. At that time, a farming group in Monmouth held competitions for ploughing fields. However, the idea for a proper cattle show didn't come about until 1857. On May 30, 1857, two important people helped start it. The eighth Duke of Beaufort donated ten pounds. And John Rolls added twenty pounds to create a special fund. This money helped to start the first Monmouth Cattle Show. It was held in October of that same year. John Rolls was the President of the show for his whole life. After he passed away, his son, John Allan Rolls, took over as President in 1870.
Where the Show Has Been Held
In 1876, the show moved to a new place. It was held at the town's recently built cattle market in an area called Chippenham Fields. The show then happened every year. At first, it was in October, but later it moved to August. It kept this August date until the First World War began. The show started again in 1919. That's when it got its new name: the Monmouthshire County Show. It didn't take place during the Second World War. But from 1946 until 2006, it was held every year at Vauxhall Fields. There were a few other times the show was cancelled. It didn't happen in 1956 or 2001 because of outbreaks of foot and mouth disease. It was also cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The year 2007 was special. It marked the 150th anniversary of the Monmouthshire Show Society! In that same year, the show moved to a brand new location on Redbrook Road in Monmouth.
When the Show Happens
When the show first started, it was held in October. But later, the date was moved to September. This was done to have a better chance of good weather. As of 2023, the show's date has moved again. It now takes place on the third Sunday in August.
