County Show

Record of a Hertfordshire agricultural show on a rainy day

The film opens with a speeded scene of the sky brightening at sunrise at Mackerye End Farm, and two cats in the farmyard where men lead a bull into a purpose-built van which departs. The printed catalogue for the Great Hertfordshire Show is followed by a sign for the show with Spratts advertising. At Hatfield House where the show is held in the grounds, scenes show the entrance gates decorated with bunting behind a large statue, people in the rain wearing raincoats and capes and carrying umbrellas, and cars parked in the drive. Speeded film of rain clouds. The rain over, scenes of the showground, with many cars on the site, and visitors walking amongst the stands and show rings. A display of implements to pull behind a tractor to turn the soil, then the display of prize cups and shields, followed by a sign “Exhibitors are asked not to bring horses to this office”. In an area fenced as wickerwork pens, horses await the judging. More shots of rain clouds. Bulls are paraded across the increasingly muddy ground, and lined up for judging. There are close-ups of the men who brought the bull from Mackerye End Farm, and their bull “Full Cry” is awarded first prize. More shots of the clouds, and rain teeming from a roof. Shot of a board or box marked Dolphin Smith Harpenden. The crowd with their umbrellas gather for the prize-giving. In the ring during the display of horse riding and a coach, the camera concentrates on the crowd in the rain including a woman’s shoes crossing the wet ground, her raincoat hem mud-spattered. The prize winning bull is shown back at the farm being groomed.

Featured Buildings

Mackerye End Farm Mackerye End House

Featured Events

Great Hertfordshire Show [Hertfordshire County Show] July 1936

Intertitles

Directed by H.A.V. Bulleid Sunrise … at Mackerye End Farm The implements … The judge … First prize Harpenden Full Cry of Mackerye End Farm Distribution of prizes … Fun … of the fair. Fun … Outlook … showers probable. Prizes may come … Diplomas may go … Idly eaten by winner Grooming goes on, for ever The End Wood House Pictures

Other Places

Harpenden, Hertfordshire

Background Information

Mackerye End is a sixteenth century house set in formal gardens, parkland and woodland. Dolphin Smith 1876 – 1956 was born at Mackerye End and farmed at Mackerye End and other farms in the Harpenden area. The first name “Dolphin” had been passed down the generations.