Stowupland Flower Show and Fete (before WW2)
The fete started in the 1880’s, being originally termed Stowupland Cottagers’ Show. The second year of he show, 1887, Mr H.F. Harwood gave permission for it to be held in the grounds of Stowupland Hall, and he opened up the hall gardens and orchards for the villagers to enjoy. It was usually held on a Tuesday in late July or early August and local employers gave their workers a 1/2 day off to enjoy the show. Although we don’t have a date for the 1887 show it may have been a few weeks after Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee (20th June, 1887).
For the following 6 decades it was held in the grounds of Stowupland Hall, later moving along the road to the Village Hall in the 1960’s.
The show had began as a fruit, vegetable and flower show. Then in 1889 traveling show people added entertainments to the displays of produce. The first was Mrs Jarley’s Wax works.
During the first half of the 20th century the show was very successful. Many local people, including school children, competed in the myriad of produce and craft sections as well as participating in the sports events. In addition each year the organising committee booked diverse entertainments for people to see.
In 1935 the committee decided not to hold the show because the previous year had seen a poor turn out. However it was held again in 1936 and was deemed a success. Intriguingly the SFSF minute book shows the organising committee held regular meetings up to July 6th, 1939 but then there is a gap in the record till April 1950.
The show had a break of nearly a decade after the outbreak of WW2 but resumed by 1948, which was deemed a very successful fete.
However by the 1960’s the show was struggling to be profitable and the decision was made in 1965 to scale down and move along the road to the Village Hall.
A much reduced Flower and Craft fair still takes place in Holy Trinity Church and the Village Hall.
Read a A brief history of Stowupland Flower Show and fete (Neil Langridge 2018).
Read Eric Noy ‘s memories of the fete
As the programme says in 1939 the 46th Flower Show was combined with the 57th Annual Stowmarket and Central Suffolk Farmers Club Show on Saturday 15th July
In 2020 Roger Lark (son of Rev Lark) shared his memories by email of the fete, “another fond memory is helping to run the clay pigeon shoot at the flower show as run by a farmer think it was Barker he has a collection of vintage tractors. Was paid £1 10s a bottle of tolly brown ale and fish and chips for tea, Happy days.“
