Geograph - photograph every grid square

Although hunting has been banned for several years many of the old packs still remain, here they are waiting to show off their skills in the main ring at the Gillingham and Shaftesbury Show.

The Gillingham Agricultural Society was formed in 1860 with 1862 seeing the formation of the Shaftesbury Farmers Club who made an “application to the Most Hon. Marquess of Westminster for permission to hold the exhibition of flocks in the new market place”. From then on, apart from a break during World War I, the two societies held separate shows until 1930, when after four years of discussion they amalgamated and it became the Gillingham and Shaftesbury Agricultural Show (Gillingham being the older society had the honour of being first in the name). The Show was then held on even numbered years at Gillingham, with odd numbered years in Shaftesbury. This continued, except for the years during World War II, until 1995 when the first show was held on the present Turnpike Showground near Motcombe; the society having purchased 96 acres of land, part of Manor Farm, the previous year. For more information visit the show’s website at Link .