Royal Welsh Show

Royal Welsh Agricultural Show Ground, Llanelwedd

The Royal Welsh Show (Welsh: Sioe Frenhinol Cymru) is an agricultural show, organised by the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society (originally, the Welsh National Agricultural Society[1], formed 26 February 1904 by influential landowners, at Committee Room 12 at the House of Commons[2][3]), and first held in 1904. It takes place in July of each year, at Llanelwedd, near Builth Wells, in Powys, Mid Wales.[4]

The first show was held in Aberystwyth in 1904, on the Vicarage Field,[5]

Godfrey Morgan, 1st Viscount Tredegar was elected president of Welsh National Agricultural Society in 1913.[6][7][8]

On 22 November 1922, George V became Patron and the Edward VIII, Prince of Wales became Honorary President, and the name was changed to the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society.[5]

It was held in a different town, every year in July, alternating between the north and the south, with a permanent showground at Llanelwedd near Builth Wells, first used on 23 July 1963.[9][10]

No show was held in 1915–18 (WWI), 1940–45 (WWII) nor 2020–21 (COVID-19 pandemic). The latter years saw some events going virtual.

  1. ^ "Society History". Royal Welsh. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  2. ^ "120 Years, Celebrating the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society – in the very room where it all started!". Wales Week London. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  3. ^ "Royal Welsh Show 'more relevant than ever' as it celebrates 120 years amid farmers protests". ITV News Wales. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  4. ^ Jones, Matt (24 July 2023). "Chaos and carnival atmosphere of Powys' Royal Welsh Show". The Scottish Farmer.
  5. ^ a b "Royal Welsh Agricultural Society Records". Archives Hub. Joint Information Systems Committee. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  6. ^ "Welsh National Agricultural Society". The Glasgow Herald. 10 December 1913. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  7. ^ Heley, Jesse; Sanders, Amy; Caerwynt, Flossie; Zaidi, Najia; Power, Sally (May 2024). "The royal Welsh agricultural society: Patronage and the reproduction of elites in rural Wales". Journal of Rural Studies. 108: 103291. doi:10.1016/j.jrurstud.2024.103291. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  8. ^ "Welsh National Agricultural Society". Welsh Gazette and West Wales Advertiser. papuraunewydd.llyfrgell.cymru. 5 May 1904. Retrieved 27 July 2024. ... Welsh National Agricultural Society. This, as ... Lord Powis was asked to be president, Lord Tredegar to be vim- Mr. ... Tredegar and Lord Powis. They ...
  9. ^ "The Royal Welsh Show - Past & Present". Peoples Collection Wales. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  10. ^ "The history of the Royal Welsh Show". BBC. 14 July 2011. Retrieved 27 July 2024.