Newspaper miscellany : Blogs using the British Newspaper Archive Blog #12 (URL links are broken) The Chelsea Flower Show

Blogs using the British Newspaper Archive

Blog #12 (URL links are broken) The Chelsea Flower Show

All newspaper images © The British Library Board

Blog 12 Chelsea flower show

The year 2013 marks the ‘centenary’ of the annual Chelsea Flower Show, held in the grounds of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea. There may be some who say, it was really the hundredth anniversary of the exhibition at Chelsea in 2012. However, the 2102 exhibition was a ‘Royal International Horticultural Exhibition’, and intended to be a once only event. Even The Garden, the journal of the Royal Horticultural Society, in its April 2013 issue, carries a leaflet stating: “ 100 years [of the] RHS Chelsea flower show…” For those who wish for some history of its precursors, the Royal Horticultural Society has been holding annual exhibitions since 1862; and before that since 1833.

In 1912, the Royal International Horticultural Exhibition was held in the grounds of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, for the first time. The venue proved such a good site for an exhibition that the spring flower shows have been held there since.

The 1912 International Show was opened by King Georg V and Queen Mary on the 22 May 1912. The Queen was presented with two bouquets, one of orchids and the other of white violets. The “…great tent, covering nearly four acres of ground…” has been a feature of the exhibition, ever since 1912.

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette - Thursday 23 May 1912 page 3 col. 3.

Image © Northcliffe Media Limited. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000511/19120523/019/0003

In its report on the 1912 show, the Aberdeen Journal drew attention to the presentation of cups by King George V and his mother Queen Alexandra – respectively for the best exhibit in show, and the best rock and water garden exhibits

Aberdeen Journal - Friday 24 May 1912 page 7 col. 2.

Image © D.C.Thomson & Co. Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000576/19120524/085/0007

The visit of the King and Queen to the show in 1912 established a pattern which has continued. The Dundee Evening Telegraph printed a photograph of them at the 1930 show, waling round one of the ornamental gardens. It must have been cool weather, for both are wearing coats.

Dundee Evening Telegraph - Wednesday 21 May 1930 page 1

Image © D.C.Thomson & Co. Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000563/19300521/007/0001

Royalty from other countries were attracted to the show. The Aberdeen Journal has a picture showing the Queen of Spain and Princess Beatrice walking round, in the company of Lord Lambourne.

Aberdeen Journal - Saturday 27 May 1922 page 5

http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000576/19220527/024/0005

The naming of plants after members of the British royal family also became a feature. In the Dundee Courier of 21 May 1930, the pansy named after Princess Elizabeth “…has a deep velvety red centre, and is edged with a colour that matched the Princess’s curls.”

Dundee Courier - Wednesday 21 May 1930

Image © D.C.Thomson & Co. Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000564/19300521/116/0007

The Chelsea Flower was a magnet for visits by local horticultural societies. In 1934, the notice printed in the Derby Daily Telegraph states that the members of the Derbyshire Horticultural Society were to travel by train to London.

Derby Daily Telegraph - Wednesday 30 May 1934 page 5 col. 7.

Image © Northcliffe Media Limited. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000521/19340530/046/0005

Of course, competition for prizes has been intense between the exhibitors. Prizes awarded were a source of pride for the town or locality of the prize winner, a fact frequently noticed in local newspapers. Messrs. Cypher & Sons won a silver-gilt medal for orchids at the 1916 show, and the attentions given to their display attracted the interest of Queen Mary – all of which was reported in the Cheltenham Looker-On.

Cheltenham Looker-On - Saturday 27 May 1916 page 11 col. 1.

Image © Northcliffe Media Limited. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000506/19160527/012/0011

In 1929, silver cups were awarded to Blackmore and Langdon, of Bath, for a group of begonias and a group of delphiniums.

Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette - Saturday 25 May 1929 page 12 col. 4.

Image © Northcliffe Media Limited. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD

http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000514/19290525/078/0012

Dartington Hall secured a gold medal in 1933 for its rock garden, and additionally a silver medal for its trees and shrubs. Veitch & Son gained a silver medal for its trees and shrubs.

Western Morning News - Friday 26 May 1933 page 6 col. 3.

Image © Northcliffe Media Limited. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000329/19330526/042/0006

Local reports continued: Blackmore and Langdon secured a gold medal for its display of begonias, with the newspaper headline mixing the location of the nursery in Bath with the flowers.