1930s – Everyday life on the gardens

In the 1930s the UK experienced an economic depression causing unemployment and widespread poverty, particularly in the industrial areas.   Wigan must have had a reputation for being particularly badly affected as George Orwell was commissioned to write an account of poverty in the North and he visited Wigan in February in 1936, before going on to …

The story of Albert Huxley and the Challenge Cup

Pause for another diversion – this time into the more recent past.  The engravings on the Cup show it was awarded each year for ten years.  Rd(Richard) Croston won it in 1930 and 1932, John F Parr in 1931, Fred Beech in 1933 (If you remember, his garden was damaged by boys in 1922) and Albert …

The Challenge Cup

  Last week we attended the annual prize giving of NSHS (we didn`t win anything), with hot pot supper and a visit from the Mayor and a good time was had by all.  Each year there are prizes for winners of the big veg competition and for the best kept gardens.  The overall winner is …

Garden judging

A prize for the best cropped and best kept garden was awarded as part of the early shows. In 1924 the entrance fee was 6d per double and 4d per single garden and the prize was 5/- for each single and double garden.   Mr Boyd (Haigh Hall head gardener at the time) was asked to …