Peterborough Showground

After receiving a photograph of the showground entrance sometime last year I was curious as to the location of the original Peterborough Showground. I remember reading in the local newspaper many years ago that it was located in the Millfield area of Peterborough, but I was unsure that this photograph was taken in Millfield, so I consulted the members of the 'Peterborough Memories' mailing list group who were very helpful. Some of the information contained on this page came from 'Park Ward Bits and Bobs' written by Marion Brown.

The showground has been situated in different areas of Peterborough:

  • Wagon and Horses yard, Bridge Street (c. 1854)
  • Boroughbury (c.1870)
  • Park Road/Broadway (1890-1910)
  • Windmill Street, Millfield (c.1910)
  • Eastfield Road (c.1910-1965)
  • Alwalton (1965-present)

Peterborough Showground entrance, Eastfield Road. The sign above the entrance gate reads 'Peterborough Agricultural Society'. Photograph taken during the 1920s.

Interestingly, Peterborough Agricultural Society has been in existence since 1797 and is said to be the oldest in the country.

The above photographed stirred up a few memories of the 'Peterborough Memories' group:

' The main entrance was in Eastfield Road and was a big gate with an archway, and the main field for the show butted up to Newark Avenue/Eastfield Road, sort of in a corner. They moved it in the early 60's (at a rough guess) and apparently they also played rugby on the field when the show wasn't on. They had it on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and on the Thursday evening they'd have motorbike racing there. This would be pre-1965'

'the Peterborough Showground was on Eastfield Road, somewhere around the site that Tate Close is now, and surrounding area.'

'my husband and family lived in Newark Avenue opposite the Eastfield Rd showground- father in law lived there 64 years! Peter, husband, remembers going under the fence into the showground as a boy. He also remembers the showground was (previously?) on Lincoln Road.'

'That picture is the Showground on Newark Avenue. Also it extended from the corner of what is new Newark Avenue about a quarter of a mile towards what is now Dogsthorpe on the opposite side of the road to Eastfield cemetery. It had a bandstand and a permanent hound show in the corner nearest Eastfield Road but farthest away from Newark Ave which at that time was called Garton End Lane.'

Cambs_Boro_Police_1895

The photograph above was sent in by one of our visitors, Alan Cunnington. It was taken in 1895 and shows the Cambs Boro Police at the Peterborough Show July 1895. The showground in question would be Park Road/Broadway. The back row shows PCs 33 ? 7 Churchman 23 Lilley 37 ? 32 ? 10 L. Savidge 25 & 42 ? Seated PC26 Sword Sgt ? Insp ? Sgt 2 Simmonds PC31 Wright. Front PC48 Witham Civ.? PC11 Simmons.

As a bonus, Alan has also sent in an excerpt taken from the 'Peterborough & Huntingdonshire Standard' Saturday June 9th 1895:

At the Watch Committee of the Town Council on Friday the Chief Constable applied to be allowed to engage extra police for the forthcoming visit at H.R.H the Prince of Wales to the Agricultural Show and he was authorized to engage 15 additional men. On the second day of the show, and four for the other two days of the show, the Agricultural Society paying for the police required by them on the ground. The question of engaging two mounted police to lead the Royal carriage through the city was discussed and the question adjourned.