Show History
The Currie Show is now the only Flower and Craft Show left in South West Edinburgh and it is the desire of the Show Committee to maintain the old traditions of Village life in what has now become a dormitory suburb of Greater Edinburgh. Formally constituted in 1878 the Show has had an almost unbroken run since that time apart from the two World Wars and a short break due to a financial problem at the beginning of the 20th Century. Recently obtained Archival Reports from the Scotsman Newspaper show that the first reported Show was in August 1849 and we have subsequent reports until the late 1890’s. These 19th century Shows were largely supported by the owners of the “Big Houses” along the valley and whilst their gardeners grew and prepared the exhibits the owners got the “Brownie Points” from the reports we now hold there was some classes for the “Cottager” and from the names of prizewinners would appear to have been well supported. Currie Show is not the oldest Village Show in Scotland that distinction goes to Brechin that has been in existence since 1838 although there is still a possibility that a Show could well have been held in Currie in the years prior to the 1849 report in the Scotsman.
Since the formal establishment of the Show it has been held at various locations in the district at times in the open air on the Minister's Glebe, in 1911 the Show moved indoors to the Old Village School and remained there until the outbreak of World War 1, after the War it then moved to the Gibson Craig Memorial Hall on the main road. In 1962 the Show relocated to the Currie Hill School where it was held until 2005. Curriehill School became surplus to the requirements of Edinburgh City Council and may be sold off for private development. So the Society had to find a new home, from 2006 onward and after much thought Balerno High School became the venue of choice. The great advantage of locating to Balerno High is that unlike Curriehill Primary the Show is now held on the School Concourse and is totally disabled friendly, everything is on one level. No records are available from before 1915 although for which year we have some accounts that indicate that monies were held over for the duration of the war. It is of course very possible locked away in a trunk or similar that someone may have papers, photographs and other material from earlier times and if anyone should have anything at all the Society would like to hear from you.
Currie Show is the quintessential village show and does not require the same level of horticultural expertise that is required for major shows such as Southport, Ayr, and Dundee etc. Although there are records that flower shows have been held in Currie since the 1840’s. The Scotsman Archive has reference to Shows held in Balerno and the earliest date for Balerno is 1868. As yet there is no detail to be had about these 19th Century Balerno Shows and the History Society cannot as yet provide any information. Perhaps locked away in a trunk in someone’s attic there may just be some old and dusty documents, newspaper clippings, old photographs etc. Should anyone have any information the Society would like to hear from you.
The Constitution of the Society is to promote a taste for Gardening in all its branches and also Industrial Work amongst amateurs resident or who attend work or take part in any recreational activity within the Parish of Currie and Juniper Green and for the encouragement of Industrial Work.
Since the formal establishment of the Show it has been held at various locations in the district at times in the open air on the Minister's Glebe, in 1911 the Show moved indoors to the Old Village School and remained there until the outbreak of World War 1, after the War it then moved to the Gibson Craig Memorial Hall on the main road. In 1962 the Show relocated to the Currie Hill School where it was held until 2005. Curriehill School became surplus to the requirements of Edinburgh City Council and may be sold off for private development. So the Society had to find a new home, from 2006 onward and after much thought Balerno High School became the venue of choice. The great advantage of locating to Balerno High is that unlike Curriehill Primary the Show is now held on the School Concourse and is totally disabled friendly, everything is on one level. No records are available from before 1915 although for which year we have some accounts that indicate that monies were held over for the duration of the war. It is of course very possible locked away in a trunk or similar that someone may have papers, photographs and other material from earlier times and if anyone should have anything at all the Society would like to hear from you.
Currie Show is the quintessential village show and does not require the same level of horticultural expertise that is required for major shows such as Southport, Ayr, and Dundee etc. Although there are records that flower shows have been held in Currie since the 1840’s. The Scotsman Archive has reference to Shows held in Balerno and the earliest date for Balerno is 1868. As yet there is no detail to be had about these 19th Century Balerno Shows and the History Society cannot as yet provide any information. Perhaps locked away in a trunk in someone’s attic there may just be some old and dusty documents, newspaper clippings, old photographs etc. Should anyone have any information the Society would like to hear from you.
The Constitution of the Society is to promote a taste for Gardening in all its branches and also Industrial Work amongst amateurs resident or who attend work or take part in any recreational activity within the Parish of Currie and Juniper Green and for the encouragement of Industrial Work.
