Our History

WITH HUGE THANKS TO TONY TURK, our expert on ‘all things Newick!’-

The Newick Horticultural Society was established in 1831 - it’s one of the earliest horticultural societies in Sussex and the second oldest in England. There were two key founders of the society - Joshua Mantell and Thomas Baden Powell. Joshua Mantell (the brother of the renowned geologist Gideon Mantell) was the village surgeon and a horticultural enthusiast. He was appointed secretary. Thomas Baden Powell (1786-1868) was the village rector and the society treasurer. The society president was W Thomson, who lived at ‘Beechlands’ on Cornwell’s Bank.

We are very lucky to have a fine engraving created by a Newick resident, James Henry Hurdis, in 1833. It illustrates beautifully the first Annual Show held in 1832, in the grounds of ‘Beechlands’.

A significant feature of the society was that it was not simply for the benefit of local nursery men and professional gardeners of the gentry, to show off their fine displays, but was particularly for participation by the humble ‘cottagers’. The cottagers are shown on the left side of the engraving. The local newspapers in July 1832 stated that the benefits of the society were seen as encouraging the labouring poor towards industrious use of their time in their gardens, improving their moral habits and character, their happiness and their independence. In other words… keeping the labourers out of the beer-houses!!

In these early days the society summer show attracted huge numbers of people. The 1833 show attracted between 3000-4000 visitors arriving from far and wide by foot or in horse-drawn vehicles. The 1834 show was just as popular. The Newick Horticultural Society was considered at the time to be the leading society of the County.

20 years later, a 1853 local newspaper stated that the whole of the rural population of the district had “a characteristic love for neatness of their gardens and gaiety of their flower borders before their cottages...even more striking now than at any other period”.

It is worth adding an 1874 quote from Richard Jefferies, the well-known writer on nature and English rural life, who said “for if there is one thing in which the labourer takes an interest it is his garden and his allotment. To offer him prizes for the finest productions of his garden touches the most sensitive part of his moral organisation. It is wonderful what an amount of emulation these prizes excite – emulation not so much for the value of the prize as for the distinction”.

The Newick Horticultural Society continued through the 1800’s and the 1900’s with the annual shows held at many different venues including the ‘hospital field’ off Allington Road, the ‘Home Field’ which was part of the old Brett’s Farm, the ‘Rectory Field’ Font Hill, opposite the old ‘Chez Nous’ nurseries in Western Road, opposite ‘Oaklea Warren’ on the main road to Chailey and at the King George V playing field (which had earlier been called ‘Greenfield Meadow’). The annual shows often included other attractions as well such as sports, baby shows, bands, gymkhanas, etc.

Into the 21st century the society still continues with enthusiasm and with a range of activities. The well-known radio programme ‘Gardeners Question Time’ was held in the village hall in 2004. A campaign to revive the growing of the once famous ‘Newick Leveller’ gooseberries is progressing. The village has held popular ‘garden open days’. The society arranges talks, outings, quiz evenings, plant sales, coffee mornings and a photographic competition. The annual summer show, held in a huge marquee on the village green, includes a popular family fun dog show. It has plant sales and stalls, but of course the main attraction at this event is the tent with the impressive displays of entries.

Newick can take pride in being the oldest horticultural society in a Sussex village which still regularly holds its annual show in a marquee. What is so splendid is that the atmosphere in the display tent must surely be just the same now as in those far off days in the 19th century – the fragrance from the flowers, fruit and vegetables and the crushed grass, the gentle chatter of the admiring visitors and the pride of the entrants in winning their silver cups and modest prizes. Long may the tradition continue.