Celebrating 100 years of the New Forest Show

The New Forest and Hampshire County Show

The New Forest Show has had a long and varied history starting as a small, one-day agricultural Show at Netley Marsh in 1920 and developing into the three-day spectacular event of today.

It has moved location on several occasions and survived major world events and other problems to become a favourite fixture in the calendar of the New Forest.

The very first New Forest Show took place on Wednesday 1st September 1920 in a field at Marley House, Netley Marsh. Classes were provided for cattle, horses, pigs, poultry, farm vegetables, cookery, fruit, flowers and honey. The owner of the field Mr W Cooper , was the secretary of the Show. The purpose of the Show as to bring New Forest people together and to put the traumatic years of the Great War behind them. One pleasing feature of the Show as that money was raised for St Dunstan Hostel for blind service men, and Southampton Hospitals. There 350 entries at the very first Show.

To find out more – please download and read the special centenary supplement available above.