THIS fascinating article about the birth of Kilnsey Show in 1897, was reproduced in the April, 1940, edition of The Dalesman, soon after the magazine was first published in March, 1939, under the original title of The Yorkshire Dalesman. It is going strong to this day.

The article was penned by Marmaduke Miller, whose son Robin continues to live in Arncliffe. The family ran the village’s Falcon Inn for many years.

It was discovered by Bill Foster, a retired farmer from Kilnsey now living in Kettlewell. He serves on the management committee and is also a trustee of Upper Wharfedale Agricultural Society, which continues to organise Kilnsey Show & Sports. Dick Foster, who is mentioned in the article, was his grandfather.

The article was entitled "The Strange Origin of Kilnsey Show, by M’Duke Miller"!

It read: "Nothing short of war can stop Kilnsey Show, which is a great event in the Dalesman’s calendar. Whether or not the show will be held this year is now under discussion, and a meeting of the show committee is to be held in June to make a final decision. In this article our contributor tells the story of its strange beginnings.

Very few people would connect the origin of Kilnsey Show with a light hearted, but none the less sincere, promise made by a certain “gentleman of the road” in the tavern at Kilnsey.

Mick Faraday lived “wide” of Bradford and travelled a chestnut hackney stallion of the name of Morning Star. He was making his final round of the season and as befitted the occasion a little celebration was in progress at the Tennant’s Arms, with mine host, Mr Harry Inman, attending to the wants of the company. A peep at the proceedings would show Mick cheerfully endeavouring to make the most of his last evening and with him all those friends from the dales who could possibly make the journey.

Morning Star is the apple of Mick’s eye and it follows that his thoughts travel more than once to his previous charge in his more expansive moments when dominoes have given place to song, recitation and step-dance. The bar parlour rings to the applause of these men who know how to enjoy the simple pleasures of life and they join with gusto in rousing choruses.

'The wood lies low in the valley O' is among the favourites and the company revel in its repetition as each chorus produces an added phrase until the final line takes one from the yolk in the egg by easy yet vociferous stages to the nest on the twig and back to the wood that lies low in the valley O.

When the fun is at its height Mick calls for drinks round and without preamble reminds the company that this is his last round of the season, but that, God willing, he and Morning Star will be travelling the dusty dales roads the following season.

An overwhelming generosity prompts him to announce to all and sundry that he will give 50 shillings the following year to the owner of the best foal sired by his horse. Mick is taken at his word and next year eight foals are paraded in the flat field facing the inn.

In the meantime the host of the Tennants had sportingly offered an additional 50 shillings for sheep prizes. This was a beginning, and Dick Wilkinson, of North Cote, and Jerry Hagar, of Nether Hesleden, whistled up their dogs and brought down nine half bred sheep from the Ox Pasture high above Kilnsey Crag, to make three pens. This was showing in the natural state and no mistake! Not a brush, not a comb and not even a definite owner.

The main thing was to show, and in spite of the lack of preparation and doubtful ownership there was certainly no lack of knowledge or doubt about the judging for this was in the capable hands of Mr W Robinson, of the Racehorses in Kettlewell, and Mr John Hunter, of Stockdale, Settle.

A few half-bred lambs also were shown - so I am told by one of the few Dalesmen who clearly remember the occasion - by “Matt” Robinson, of Scale Park, who possibly took the prize “unchallenged.” Mr Jerry Hagar, of Nether Hesleden, was awarded the first prize in the foal section, but unfortunately we cannot find anyone who remembers the winners of the 2nd and 3rd awards.

The show as yet was still in the incubation period and had not reached the stage of committees, secretaries or minutes. However, there was a show and there was a dance at night and that is how the show began.

After the first show the dales farmers saw no possibilities of making it an annual event and decided to call a general meeting during the winter. This was held in the same room that Mick Faraday made his sporting offer, but this time a committee was elected and Mr. George Ed. Clayton, of Buckden, who at that time lived in Hawkswick, was chosen as the first show secretary.

For the first few years the proceeds of the show, or gala as it was originally called, were sent to Leeds Infirmary. Few of the original committee are living but among them is Edward Carlisle, of Grassington, William Robinson, of Kettlewell, another member died a few months ago at the age of 82.

Other names one associates with the show’s early days are Kit Tennant of Starbotton, Dick Foster of North Cote and John Gill, Halton Gill.

During the last war the show committee sent a subscription of ten guineas towards the British Farmers’ Red Cross Fund. In acknowledging this gift the show committee were asked if they would organise a jumble sale and arising from this an agricultural jumble sale was held in June, 1917.

The catalogue of entries included almost everything one sees in the dales, from mug tups to Swaledale gimmer hoggs, from sets of double harness to wheelbarrows, from Campine hens to pure bred leghorn cockerels, from dusting mops to besoms, from copper kettles to gold cuff links, from sitting duck eggs (good strain) to home-fed hams and from roan bull calves to fine engravings.

One cannot talk of Kilnsey Show without including the Harker family, of Grassington, who, father and son, have worked indefatigably for its success for the last 30 years. Theirs is a fine record."

As far as is known, Kilnsey Show did go ahead in 1940. The only year it had to be cancelled was 2001 due to foot and mouth. The first Kilnsey Show was staged in 1897, Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee Year. This year’s Kilnsey Show & Sports is the 118th and it takes place on Tuesday, September 1.

For more details, visit kilnseyshow.co.uk