The Christleton Village Show

The first village show was held on The Rectory Fields now the site of Christleton High School in 1871. We’re not sure what events constituted this occasion, but we have evidence from 1872 that it was primarily a Fruit & Flower Show. In 1876 a Rose Show was held to provide funds for the new church building. It took place on Sunday afternoon July 25th following a St James’ Day Festival service, “and was attended by a very large aristocratic congregation”.*” The Show was deemed a great success, indeed the judges were perfectly astonished with symmetry and general healthiness of the exhibits” In class 1 the competition was open to all and cash prizes of £1, 15/- and 10/- were awarded. In Class 2 the competition open to all local cottagers paying less than £10 per annum in rent, with much smaller cash prizes to the winners. Class 3 was an open class for Roses, and in Class 4 the prize for the best bouquet was won by Mrs Lucy Ann Ince who also won the class of the Epergne dressed with flowers (a display for the centre of a dinning table). The Band of the Cheshire Militia, whose Commanding officer was her husband Colonel Townsend Ince, played for dancing until dusk’. The tea tent was well patronised and great credit for the overall organisation given to Sam Earlam and the Rev & Mrs Lionel Garnett.

There was also a Grand Fete that year on Bank Holiday Monday August 7th, and events included a fancy fair, athletic sports, pigeon shooting, rifle gallery, cross bows and dart guns, archery, skittles, aunt Sally and quoits. The Band of the 1st Royal Cheshire Militia also played for this event, which was held to raise funds for the rebuilding of St James’ Church.

The shows in July of 1881 and 1882 for which we have programmes, were Rose Shows and Sales of Work, specifically to raise the remaining funds for the completion of the church building. Entrance to the Rose Show was 1/-, and tea and refreshments were provided at a further cost 1shilling. The show was followed by dancing on the Village Green. Transport to the Show was organised by a Mrs Barnes who ran the Favourite Omnibus and Brakes from the Bars in Chester to Christleton every hour beginning at 2.00 o’clock. The fare was 4d each way. Incidentally this was the same company who in 1911 advertised a service to Christleton to listen to the nightingales on the Woodfields, price 6d.

In August 1901 a Grand Bazaar and Garden Party was held at The Rectory, in aid of the schools, and was opened at 2.30pm by the Countess Grosvenor. This was totally organised by a Ladies Committee and was highly successful. The attractions included a Dairy Stall, Fancy Stall, Pottery, Baskets, Flowers and Herbaceous Plants, An Ideal Tea Stall, Fancy Stall 2 and Needlework. There were Menagerie Races, a Shooting Gallery, Sunlight Washing Competitions, Hat trimming competitions for men, Bran Pies etc. The event was sponsored by Lever Bros. of Port Sunlight, Wirral, and they provided the following prizes for the Ladies Sunlight Soap Washing Competition.

1st Prize. A handsome case of best quality Electro Plated Tea Spoons & Tongs value 21/-
2nd Prize. A case of specialities, manufactured by Lever Brothers Ltd, comprising Sunlight Soap, Lifebuoy Royal Disinfectant Soap, Swan White floating soap, Monkey brand etc, and a beautifully illustrated certificate for each winner.
Consolation Prizes. Twelve Sunlight Towels.
Band & Dancing. Admission 1s, till 5.00pm, afterwards 6d
Afternoon tea cost 2/6d, which seems an extraordinary amount for those days. Waggonettes ran to Christleton through the day, from “The Bars” at Boughton.

1st Prize. A handsome case of best quality Electro Plated Tea Spoons & Tongs value 21/-
2nd Prize. A case of specialities, manufactured by Lever Brothers Ltd, comprising Sunlight Soap, Lifebuoy Royal Disinfectant Soap, Swan White floating soap, Monkey brand etc, and a beautifully illustrated certificate for each winner.
Consolation Prizes. Twelve Sunlight Towels.
Band & Dancing. Admission 1s, till 5.00pm, afterwards 6d
Afternoon tea cost 2/6d, which seems an extraordinary amount for those days. Waggonettes ran to Christleton through the day, from “The Bars” at Boughton.