Bartley Horticultural Society is over 100 years old, and still going strong!
As far as can be ascertained the first Flower Show was started in 1899. Mr H. Martin was the head gardener for Major Francis Bertram Dalrymple at Bartley Lodge. He approached his employer with the idea that a flower show would be an added attraction in village life.
Between them they decided to stage a show in the park at Bartley Lodge. Mr Martin improvised a tent by joining together two hayrick tarpaulins. Entries were small but it was a beginning.
Later a meeting was called and the Society was formed with Major Dalrymple as the first President. Credit was given to Mr Martin for the formation of the Society and he was later made an Honorary Life Member.
Mr C. Cull became the first Chairman of the Committee with Mr Redford King as Honorary Secretary.
There is an article here from the The Western Gazette from Friday 24th August 1900
Copythorne Flower Show
The Copythorne, Minstead, and Netley Marsh Cottagers and Amateurs’ Garden Society held their second annual show in the grounds of Bartley Lodge on Wednesday week. The patroness of the Society is the Dowager Lady Heathcote, and the President Captain R.C.H. Sloane Stanley, while Major F.H. Dalrymple is the hon. secretary and treasurer, and he lent his grounds for the occasion. The show in all respects was a great success. The entries were largely in excess of last year’s, being 437 as compared with 330 in 1899.
The exhibition featured notable contributions:
- Dowager Lady Heathcote (gardener: Mr D. Logan)
- Mr John Everett (gardener: Mr C. Cull)
- Mrs Duncan (gardener: Mr J. Campbell)
- Major Dalrymple (gardener: Mr H. Martin)
- Captain W.A. Grant (gardener: Mr C.H. White)
Notable exhibits included:
- Sir William Harcourt M.P. (roses, fruit, vegetables: gardener Mr R. Warwick)
- Mrs Duncan (fruits and cut flowers)
- Messrs Elcombe and Son of Romsey (plants and cut flowers)
- Mr W. Osmond of James Farm, Winsor (monster marrows)
Sir William and Lady Harcourt distributed the prizes.
Supporters included:
- Mr Moore of Romsey (flags for grounds decoration)
- Mr Guard of Romsey (ropes for athletic ring)
- Mr E. Bull (New Forest Band for music and dancing)
The committee included: Major Dalrymple, Messrs Redford King (assistant secretary), H. Martin, D. Logan, H. Barnes, A. Wort, Gear, Warwick, Wheeler, Campbell, White, F. Soffe (Minstead), C. Cull, Gurman, and M. Norbury.
From the start the Society flourished and aroused considerable interest in the district. Until the outbreak of World War I it was noted for fine military displays and splendid gymkhanas.
A notable feature was always the consistent high quality of the exhibits of fruit, flowers, vegetables and homecrafts. Each year the judges paid compliment to this and it was recognised to be one of the finest shows in the New Forest as detailed in the Southern Daily Echo in August 1907
Southern Daily Echo in August 1907
A New Forest Flower Show
The annual show of the Copythorne, Minstead, and Netley Marsh Horticultural and Industrial Society, of which Captain R.C.H. Sloane Stanley, J.P., of Paultons, is the President, was held at Beechwood park, by kind permission of Colonel G.C. Heathcote, J.P. and was a great success, both with regard to the nature of the show and also as to the attendance, both being quite equal to any previous year, the fine weather being a gratifying contrast to what was experienced in 1906, when heavy rain marred in a great measure the success of that show.
Classes now included Gentlemen’s and Tenant Farmers’ Dairies (butter, eggs, poultry) and special classes for the neatest and best cultivated cottage garden, wild flowers and grasses, honey and the largest collection of queen wasps. The Industrial class was for school children and included best dressed doll, pinafore, sampler, knitting and drawing.
No shows were held during either of the wars but interest never waned. On each occasion no time was lost in reviving this popular annual event. Major Sloane-Stanley of Paultons was also a Society President and ardent supporter for many years, followed by his daughter Mrs John Everett. The number of exhibits in horticultural classes have at times exceeded seven hundred with well over one hundred entries for the gymkhana.
During the 1950s Mr Cyril Haysom became Chairman supported by an enthusiastic Committee. Major C. B. Hibbert D.S.O. M.C. was Honorary Treasurer, succeeded by Mr Hubert Thomas of Ower. The show was held at Bartley Lodge Park now by kind permission of Captain P. H. Dodgson. The Honorary Secretary was Mr Cyril Harrison of Lyndhurst. He was recognised as a valuable addition to the Society’s officers for setting his heart to the colossal task with such determination.
