The Western Times of 29th May 1875 reported that year's exhibition of the Devon and Exeter Botanical and Horticultural Society:
"The hundred and thirty-eighth exhibition of the above Society was held yesterday afternoon on Northernhay. Its usual fortune attended it - that is if what everybody said is to be taken as true - it rained in the forenoon, but happily it did not continue to the end. Abour four the wet covering was a little rent, and the sun took a turn with the showers to make the scene a little more cheerful.
"The grace of resignation was greatly needed. "It's always so" - "It's a great pity" - were the expressions frequently heard - no voice of thanksgiving mingled with it for the refreshing drops upon leaf and flower. The Hay itself was a grand example of flower and landscape gardening - the fine avenue up from the Queen-street entrance was solemn as a Cathedral aisle, with flags and banners suspended from nature's lofty columns, the green-shaven turf, the trees in their richest foliage at all points of vantage, gorgeous May blossoms, the scarp under the Castle wall with its rhododendron fringe, and in the midst of all the beauty the Dinham and Acland statues teaching their lessons of faith, hope and charity - formed as bright a picture without as any within the tents."
Is it not curious that the myth that it always rains for the Devon Show has been with us for so many years?
The first 'show' must have been in 1737, ( when The States were still British Colonies.) There's tradition for you!
Nowadays the Gardens and the Castle-wall badly need attention. Mr. Dinham and Sir Thomas Dyke Acland (might they not still have lessons to teach?) both need to be cleaned and, to our shame, Sir Thomas has long since lost his right hand and nothing has been done about it. Both men gave much to the city, much that we still enjoy.
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