The Bedwellty Show - A Brief History
In 1875 deep coal mining in the Blackwood area was in its infancy. Agriculture was still the main industry and the key employer. The car had not been invented and (apart from new-fangled steam engines) the horse was still the main source of power. Farms and smallholdings abounded in the area.
The organisation of a small agricultural show, where farming neighbours could exhibit their prize farm animals, show off their vegetable produce and where farming skills (such as making hay-stacks) could be demonstrated, was therefore the most natural thing in the world.
Thus it was that in 1876 local farmers and businessmen formed the Bedwellty Agricultural Society to present the show.
The first show organised by the Society took place (on the land adjoining and opposite the Drill Hall, Blackwood!) on Thursday 18th October 1877.
From those humble beginnings, the Show has been staged almost every year for over 130 years: only war and farm animal epidemics have caused an occasional cancellation.
In the early years (and until Lord Tredegar made provision for the Show to have a permanent site) the Bedwellty Show was held not only in Blackwood but also in Pontypool, Rhymney, Pontlottyn, Maesycwmmer, Nelson, Newbridge, Risca, Rogerstone, Tredegar, Ebbw Vale, Abertillery and even Newport..
In 1911 the Western Mail reported that the Bedwellty Show was "the largest one day show in the kingdom." In its hey-day the Show attracted more than 25,000 visitors and came to be regarded as the county show for Monmouthshire.
The agricultural roots of the Bedwellty Show at his time are highlighted in some of the classes no longer seen such as: "Best half hundredweight of cheese (Caerphilly) made on the exhibitor's farm", "Best six pounds of butter", "Best Welsh Hay Rake", "Cart made in the district best suited for agricultural purposes", "Best pair of mares suitable for agricultural purposes" and "Model hayrick to be thatched with straw, 6ft by 3 ft to the eaves."
Between 1873 and 1910 the employment situation changed dramatically. The coalmines became the main employers in the area and as deep coal mining developed in the Valleys, agriculture and horticulture lost their position of prime importance.
Changing with the times, the Show developed a connection with the mining industry and this can be seen in some of the classes which were introduced as deep mining gathered pace in the Valleys. "Best Lump of Coal, extracted from the Upper Mynyddislwyn Vein"; Wire-rope splicing competitions, "Timbering" competitions (where teams of miners from the collieries competed in laying a stretch of timber pit supports.
1876 saw the first classes for "Pitters" - miniature shires bred specifically for working underground in the pits. Newspaper reports of the shows confirm that they were in tip-top condition for the Show, with coats shining like glass. The popularity of the Pitters classes is why (so they say) the Bedwellty Show developed such a strong following in horse and pony classes, which continues today.
The strange mixture of agriculture with the mining industry is almost unique to the Bedwellty Show.
Show Jumping featured at the Bedwellty Show from its very first show and at times, the standard has been very high indeed. The jumping ring has been graced by international show jumping stars of yesteryear, including the great Col Harry Llewellyn and Foxhunter, Pat Smythe and Tosca, Alan Oliver and Red Knight and Wilf White on Nizefella.
These names may not mean much to us now but they were superstars in their day.
Times are still changing, of course. Coal mining as an industry is no more in the Valleys. Agriculture is still in decline.
Nevertheless, the Bedwellty Show continues to flourish.
The Bedwellty Show is a very old institution in this area, with a unique history.
Long may it continue to be what it has always been - a great day out for everyone.
Text content used with permission of Bedwellty Agricultural Society
Official Bedwellty Show Website - Click Here