A 19th century Shrewsbury horse fair

Shrewsbury hosts two major events which draw huge crowds from all over Britain, and far beyond – the famous flower Show and the Shropshire and West Midlands Show, often refered to as the West Mid Show.

They both have their roots in the late 19th century, when they were part of a co-operative venture. The Shropshire and West Midlands Agricultural Society was already established when it played host to the fledgling Shropshire Horticultural Society's first event.

Horticulture occupied a single tent on that occasion in what is now Shrewsbury's Quarry Park, where the Flower Show still takes place every August.

The West Mid Show meanwhile has settled down at our own permanent 54-acre Berwick Road Showground alongside the River Severn. 2009 sees our 120th Show, but the tradition of fairs and markets in Shrewsbury goes back a lot further…