Carolyn Thorpe takes a glance back at the history of Penistone Show.
THE first photograph shows Penistone Agricultural Show ground in 1906 with the giant chimneys of the massive Cammell Laird steelworks, the town’s major employer in the distance.
The show was 100 years old in 1972 although a gathering had been held alternatively between Wortley and Penistone since the beginning of the nineteenth century.
It has continued annually, apart from the war years, and has been staged on various show grounds including Waterhall.
In 1883 the show was moved from a Thursday to a Saturday to avoid the cattle market and in 1906 it attracted 1,623 visitors. Regular attendances rose and remained in excess of 15,000.
The show continues to be successful today with a hardworking committee ensuring that the ‘show will go on’ in an enlarged show ground behind the new Tesco supermarket, providing even better facilities each September. Nowadays, the crowd wander through the many marquees and trade stands, watching the horse jumping displays usually wearing wellies and coats and anoraks as it is known to rain heavily on show day.
Show day is one to meet and greet old and new friends and is the highlight of the year.
