The Great Yorkshire Show, Harrogate
Harrogate was the first town to run a major agricultural event which led to the first Yorkshire Show the following year in 1838.
When the Great Yorkshire Show was conceived in 1837, Queen Victoria was on the throne and Britain was in the grip of the Industrial Revolution. A group of agriculturalists, led by the third Earl Spencer, met in York to discuss the future of farming and decided to form the Yorkshire Agricultural Society.
It had five aims to improve and develop agriculture. The first was to run a major agricultural event which led to the first Yorkshire Show the following year in 1838.
In its early days, the Show, which gained the “Great” in 1843, was small, with various towns bidding to stage it. It was held annually until its cancellation in 1915 due to the First World War. It wasn’t held again until 1920 when it moved to various locations until war engulfed the country once again in 1940.
When the Show resumed in 1949, the Society’s thoughts turned to purchasing a permanent showground. A year later the last “roaming” show was held in Malton and the Great Yorkshire Show became the first in the UK to buy a permanent showground.
The 200-acre site overlooking Rudding Park, Harrogate was bought in 1951 nearly 54,000 visitors attended the first Show at its new home which is where it remains to this day.
Whats Included
Luxury Return Coach Travel with Experienced Drivers
Extra Legroom and comfortable seats
USB charging points
Free WiFi
Entry into the Great Yorkshire Show
