Our History, From the Ground Up
The Lincolnshire Agricultural Society's rich history began in 1869.
For over 155 years the Society has dedicated itself to promoting food, farming and the countryside through events such as the Lincolnshire Show. Learn about our journey and how the Showground continues to develop and grow year on year.
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![The Society is Formed]()
The Society is Formed
The Lincolnshire Agricultural Society, as we now know it was formed way back in 1869. The first event they held was The Lincoln Show on 29th, 30th and 31st July with highlights including poultry, pigeons, seeds and roots!
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![The First Show]()
The First Show
The Show continues to run by a dedicated team and with guidance of voluntary Stewards. The first Show ran with 13 Stewards, and now we rely on a fantastic team of 200. They can be easily spotted at the Show as the men wear bowler hats and the ladies wear straw hats.
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![A Travelling Show]()
A Travelling Show
Before the Show settled at the Showground, it travelled the county stopping at various places including; Scunthorpe, Bourne, Skegness, Brocklesby Park, Louth and lots more.
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![City Recognition]()
City Recognition
In 1898, Lincoln’s Stonebow was decorated in 1000’s of flowers, showcasing the Show’s importance and grandeur in the city centre.
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![The Show Settles]()
The Show Settles
The 76th Show in 1959 was the first at the Lincolnshire Showground. After much debate the site was deemed perfect with amply space for stands, a Members enclosure and a separate public and stock entrances warranting the entrance price to double to 10 shillings.
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![City Recognition]()
City Recognition
The Lincolnshire Show has been running for over 100 years, but stopped only because of World War 2 and in 2001 because of the spread of Foot and Mouth. In the absence of the County Show in 2001, the Society planned the ‘Lincolnshire Food and Gift Fair’, an event that has flourished over the past decade and still runs today.
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![The Epic Centre]()
The Epic Centre
The Showground invested in building The Epic Centre in 2008, with 3,000 sqm of eco-friendly events space. It’s used 365 days a year to host a whole range of events, and becomes the Members’ exclusive area at the Lincolnshire Show.
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![And today...]()
And today...
We’re very proud to say that the Show continues to be one of the most successful Agricultural Shows in the country and is still running with around 60,000 visitors, including 2,500 Members and over 500 trade stands. Here’s to another 139 years!
