About Sedgefield Show

WE ARE Sedgefield Show

As the Sedgefield area was growing in prosperity & importance, the local farmers decided to establish an annual show not only to promote their livestock & produce, but to promote the prosperity of Sedgefield.

The show amalgamated with Spennymoor Show in 1877 for one year and was held on the old Spennymoor racecourse. It was decided that the show would alternate locations but this didn’t happen, for an unknown reason.

In 1861 Sedgefield Show committee approached Durham County Agricultural Society (who moved the locations of their show every year) & persuaded them to hold their ‘exhibition’ at Sedgefield (instead of Gateshead). The committee forfeited their own show in 1862 to hold the joint event with Durham County Agricultural Show in the field behind the Hardwick Arms in July 1862.

The show appears to have mostly used the “a field behind Hardwick Inn/Arms”, originally owned by the Hardwick Inn (Hardwick Arms), & called “Ducket Close”. This field now known as Robert Brown Showfield. In 1969 however, the show was held in field to “east of Sedgefield” because “foot & mouth was in the area”.

The original show format was a show followed by a dinner or a luncheon which were held in local inns in Sedgefield followed in later years in a tent on the showfield. Lord Londonderry speaking at a Sedgefield Show luncheon said that “healthy competition & healthy rivalry was a means of improvement of breeding of stock & counteracting depression”.

The show had some difficulties in 1899 and a new society committee was formed in 1900 which we believe to be Sedgefield and District Agricultural and Horticultural Society who have gone from strength to strength holding shows each year in the Robert Brown Showfield West Park Sedgefield with the exceptions of Foot and Mouth outbreak and 2 years of Coronavirus.

Its underlying purpose is to promote, maintain, improve and advance agriculture, forestry, horticulture, allied industries, rural crafts and the breeding of livestock and to foster education of the public and its awareness and interest in the agricultural industries. The Show has grown over the years and attracts visitors from all over the country.

The exceptional thing about Sedgefield Show is the number of volunteers involved, not just on Show Day, but throughout the whole year. The show has a real sense of community with people coming together to enjoy a day out as well as celebrate Agriculture and Country life.

The show has an interesting range of competitive classes which represent the many skills and aspects of life in the local community, and in the countryside. Animals, machinery and husbandry are exhibited, as are produce, handicrafts and artistic items entered by people of all ages from the local schoolchildren onwards.

In addition to this there are many other attractions, including tradestands displaying their goods, a food hall to sample local delicacies and fun-fair rides for all.

President

Mr R Craggs

Chairman

Mr I Mason

Vice Chairman

Mr M McKenzie

Secretary

Mrs Jodie Harrison

Secretary

Miss Helen Shaw

Hon. Treasurer

Mr s J Wood

Hon. Auditor

TBC

First Aid

Cipher

Showyard Manager

Mr D Etherington

Ring Steward

Mr R Young

Life Members

Dr J Larcombe, Mr J Hawkins, Mr G Russ & Mr F Dove, Mr J Wade

The Sedgefield Show Timeline

1859

The first Sedgefield Show

The very first Sedgefield Show was held on October 4th in 1859

1877

Amaagamation with Spennymoor Show

The show amalgamated with Spennymoor Show in 1877

1862

The Showfield

The committee forfeited their own show in 1862 to hold the joint event with Durham County Agricultural Show in the field behind the Hardwick Arms in July 1862. We are still there today.

1899

New Society Committee

The new commitee was formed in 1900, we believe to be Sedgefield and District Agricultural and Horticultural Society who have gone from strength to strength.

2019

Coronavirus

We have held shows every year up until 2019, cancelling both 2020 and 2021 shows.

2022

WE ARE BACK

Join us on Saturday 13th August for the 167th Sedgefield Show, we're back and can't wait to see you.

PARTNERS

A huge thank you to our sponsors

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Frequently Asked Questions

What date is the Sedgefield Show?

The show will be held on the second Saturday in August each year.

Where is the show located?

We are at the Robert Brown Showfield, locally known as the Showfield, you can see the maps on site.

How do I enter the show?

If you are entering our equine section, you can enter here 

What date is the Sedgefield Show?

The show will be held on Saturday 13th August 2022