Royal Jersey Agricultural and Horticultural Society

The Royal Jersey Agricultural & Horticultural Society (RJA&HS) is an agricultural association in Jersey. It has been instrumental in the development of the Jersey cow and its success throughout the world, and today is responsible for management of the breed in its Island home.

The Royal Jersey Showground, the Society's headquarters, also holds a wide range of indoor and outdoor events and provides meeting, conference and exhibition facilities.

On the 26 August 1833 a meeting was held in St. Helier, chaired by the Lieutenant-Governor of Jersey, Major General Thornton, to consider forming an agricultural society. At this meeting it was unanimously agreed "...to be highly desirable to form in this Island an Agricultural and Horticultural Society".

An earlier attempt to form an agricultural society in Jersey in 1790 had failed, but this time it was successful and the first meeting of the new society was held on the 7 September 1833. The aims of the new society were "to create a spirit of industry and emulation, to offer premiums for the improvement of agriculture, breeding of cattle, improved domestic economy, cleanliness and comfort in cottages, and also for the encouragement of industry and good behavior among servants and labourers in the employment of members or subscribers of the Society".

This was at a time during the 19th century, following the agricultural revolution in the United Kingdom, when many such societies were founded to communicate the latest improvements in agricultural practices to the farming community.

Today the RJA&HS is made up of two departments:

The Royal Jersey Agricultural & Horticultural Society is the oldest society in the Island and during its life has occupied a number of premises in the Island's capital, Saint Helier. In 1834 the Society rented an office at 19 Halkett Place, moving to 19 Bath Street in 1865.

A permanent showground was established on meadow land, purchased in 1884, at the edge of St. Helier and was developed into the Springfield showground. Prior to this, shows were held at the Island's Cattle Market. In 1899 the Society's offices moved to 8 Church Street and in 1913 3 Mulcaster Street was purchased. In 1969 the Society's offices moved to a new building built at the Springfield showground. The showground itself had been enlarged and developed considerably since its original purchase, e.g. the construction of the Springfield Pavilion in 1922. The Springfield estate was sold to the States of Jersey in December 1995.

...
Wikipedia