Cartmel Show celebrated a special anniversary as thousands of visitors braved the rain to see record numbers of sheep and cattle entries.

The agricultural show, lovingly nicknamed The ‘Royal’ Cartmel Show by locals, celebrated 125 years at Cartmel Park, courtesy of the Holker Group.

Visitors arrived to see 692 sheep, 237 horse and 121 cattle entries, many of them already winners at Great Yorkshire and other major shows.

It hosted for the first time a Longhorn Cattle Society Show, with 18 head of the rare beasts on display.

There was a chance to learn Morris Dancing and an interactive education area with the opportunity to milk a cow or drive a tractor.

There were 110 trade stands, 29 craft exhibitors, a kids tractor park and brass band featured and in the main ring, the Lamb National as Herdwicks jumped over fences with knitted jockeys on board, as well as terrier racing.

Local delicacies were available in the food hall and traditional sports like Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling were on show.

Activities, from archery to circus skills, a bouncy castle and birds of prey added to the attractions.

Village industries, which highlight traditional skills from painting to sewing, have attracted more than 800 entries, many of them from children, with local schools heavily involved.

Show secretary, Mrs Sarah Dickinson, said: “There are lots of new attractions this year and despite the weather, the show promises to be a great occasion.”

Lucy Cavendish, chair of Holker Group, said: “The Cavendish family and the whole Holker Group are extremely pleased to welcome the Cartmel Agricultural Show to Cartmel Park, the home of Cartmel Steeplechases.  

 “The Cartmel Show is one of the local calendar highlights of the year, which we take great pride in continuing to support.

“It is always a great pleasure to see the site transformed with so many exhibitors, entrants and visitors – it’s an annual pilgrimage for many that provides an opportunity to marvel at everything from the livestock and terrific Home Industries to the super food and drink available, whilst also giving a chance to see friends old and new.”

Cartmel Show has been held on the first Wednesday of the month of August since 1872.

It started on Farmery Fields, two fields north of the Priory, between the Vicarage and Greencroft on Priest Lane.

The decision was taken in 1897 to move the Show that year onto Cartmel Park, as it had outgrown the space available on Farmery Fields and this is where the show has continued to be staged.