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Ewell Horticultural Association

This page is part of the Bourne Hall Outreach Programme, an informal partnership between the Bourne Hall Museum and Epsom and Ewell on the Internet.

Ewell Horticultural Association has been serving the gardeners of Ewell and Stoneleigh since 1865. Currently the Association has about 2,500 members and is thought to be amongst the oldest and largest Associations of its type in England. The earliest records available date from 1899 and show that admission to the Annual Show in the grounds at the Grove cost one shilling; at this time there were 91 members. Manuscripts note that there were 'vegetables stolen' and that 'policemen must remain in tent until close of show'. The balance sheet for that year details payments of 14/- to the police and £5 for the band. Generally, prize money ranged from three shillings to ten shillings - a great deal of money in those days.

However, the Association in those early years was really providing a service for the head gardeners of the many large houses in the area, vying with each other to impress the locals. Whilst the records for the period before and after World War I cannot be found, it is thought activities ceased during hostilities.

The Association continued to serve the gardeners' needs until 1939 and the outbreak of World War II. A committee meeting minute dated 30th September 1939 recorded the closing down of the Association, and notices to this effect were placed in the local press. On 25th July 1942 it was proposed and seconded that the assets of the Association should be transferred to the 'Ewell & Ewell Court War Allotment and Garden Association': these assets amounted to £33/3/9, plus nine cups and medals. The title of the EHA was to be incorporated into the other organisation, and it should carry on its waork separately after the war. 29th May 1946 saw the effective re-emergence of the EHA under the chairmanship of R.S.Judd - albeit with under two dozen members! In 1947 three flower shows were held at Ewell County Primary School in West Street - admission free to members; non-members 6d.

By 1961 membership had gone up to 1,232. Flower shows were a regular feature of the Association's activities, attracting a total of 1,781 entries. Many local retailers gave discounts to EHA members. Sales of a limited range of fertilisers were arranged with volunteers making deliveries to members.

The one hundredth anniversary in 1965 was marked by quite low-key celebrations. The usual flower shows were held at the Drill Hall in the TA Centre at Ewell, but to commemorate the occasion the Association presented a tulip tree to the Council. This was duly planted in the grounds of Bourne Hall by the Mayor, Alderman Mrs.L.M.Woodcock. During 1980 the Association's trading centre (known as the Potting Shed) moved to its current location at Ewell Court, having previously been at the Upper Mill. This move was unavoidable - the mill site was being redeveloped - but the increased space at Ewell Court did come in handy to meet the requirements of members, then totalling 2,345. Celebrations for the 125th anniversary were much more upbeat than those of 1965. Glyn House was hired for August 18th 1990, and about 2000 visitors enjoyed a show which took as its main theme the history and development of local skills, handicrafts and horticulture since 1865. A commemorative red chestnut tree was planted in the grounds by Cllrs.Don and Nancy Shearly. Since its foundation back in 1865, the aims of EHA have not changed: 'to promote and enjoy horticulture'. It is still run by an enthusiastic group of volunteers and is, of course, non-profit-making. Any member needing advice and visiting the Potting Shed on one of the Sunday openings is assured a warm welcome, a sympathetic ear and in all probability a solution to their particular problem.

This page is part of the Bourne Hall Outreach Programme, an informal partnership between the Bourne Hall Museum and Epsom and Ewell on the Internet.

The Bourne Hall Museum mounts exhibitions each year on aspects of our local history. These exhibitions are fascinating - and much appreciated by those who see them. They take considerable care and trouble to assemble, and it is a great pity that, until now, the material in these exhibitions has been inaccessible to the general public after the exhibitions have closed. The Bourne Hall Outreach Programme will put the text from all the exhibitions back to 1992 on the Internet, thus giving you a mine of information about local history. We hope you will find it useful.

The Museum has a permanent collection and also mounts exhibitions on specific aspects of life in the past. They welcome enquiries about places in the Borough, which should be addressed to the Curator, Bourne Hall Museum, Ewell, KT17 1UF.


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