Flower show at Wateringbury Place (1893)

Post date: Oct 18, 2013 4:15:10 PM

Extract from South Eastern Gazette, 25 July 1893

FLOWER SHOW AT WATERINGBURY PLACE.

By kind permission of Lieut.-Colonel Davies J. P.The Wateringbury and Neighbourhood Gardeners Amateurs and Cottagers Mutual Improvement Society were enabled to hold their annual summer exhibition in the beautiful grounds of Wateringbury Place, Wateringbury , on Wednesday afternoon but owing to the inclement weather-rain falling steadily during the the greater part of the time that the show remained open to the public-the exhibition from a financial point of view, was not as successful as could have been wished.

With regard to the character of the show, the quality of the exhibits taking into consideration the effect the severe and protracted

drought must have had on all vegetation, compared most favourably with previous years. The show was divided into the three usual sections,professional gardeners, amateurs and cottagers and so keen was the competition in most classes that considerable difficulty

was experienced by the judges in making their award, but their results gave satisfaction to all concerned. The gentlemen who undertook the arduous task of judging were Messrs S. Woodward, gardener to Colonel Warde, H. Markham, gardener at Mereworth Castle; Markwell gardener to Lady F. Fletcher, Kenwards, Yalding, J. Neames, gardener to Alderman H. D. Davies, Wateringbury Place; and Mrs.H.B. Biron of Lympne who judged the table decorations.

During the day a lawn tennis tournament which had been arranged was greatly interfered with by the rain. The picturesque grounds surrounding Alderman Davies' residence was also thrown open to visitors to the show, while at intervals the band of the West Kent Regiment played some capital selections of music.

[there follows a very, very long series of prizes awarded over multiple categories].