Throughout James’s horticultural career he regularly exhibited the flowers, plants and vegetables he grew.
During the Victorian era, and in some cases it still applies now, if a gardener is exhibiting on behalf of their employer the employers’ name would appear on the entry and subsequent report of the show.
As you will see with the entries shown below exhibits are often listed under James Lye rather than his employer which for this time was unusual. Occasionally the show report provides some additional information, such as he is the gardener to the Hon. Mrs Louisa Hay, or refers to Clyffe Hall or Market Lavington. Other reports list the entries as those of the Hon. Mrs Louisa Hay and sometimes they will mention the gardener. We wonder if the variety of reporting for the exhibits is due to the Hon. Louisa Hay being a widow at this time.
In the list below are details of show entries which refer to James Lye or his employer. One thing which stands out especially in the Fuchsia classes is the number of plants which are entered into each class. To get this quantity of show-worthy plants James and his team will have grown a significant number of plants to get the quality he needed to enter the various classes in the show. He is often reported as exhibiting at more than one show throughout the season, so multiple plants would be needed to ensure they are blooming at the right time and at their best for the different shows.
We would welcome any details, on shows not listed here, where James Lye or the Hon. Mrs Hay appears in show reports, or if you have any historical documents which relate to these shows, James Lye or the Hon. Mrs Hay.
We would welcome further information, on shows not listed here, where James Lye appears as an exhibitor, or if you have any historical documents which relate to these shows. If you have any information please contact us.
“The “Open to all England” tent was of course the great attraction. The first things on entering this tent that struck the eye was the magnificent fuchsias brought by Mr. Lye, gardener to the Hon. Mrs. Hay, of Market Lavington.”
The Bristol Mercury and Daily Post (27 August 1884). Calne Flower Show, Held at Bowood Park
| Year | Month | Show | Exhibit(s) | Prize | Notes from Source | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1875 | September | The International Potato Exhibition (Alexandra Palace) | Potato: ‘Bresee’s Peerless’ | 3rd | “Bresee’s Peerless, from Mr. James Lye, gn, Cliffe Hall, Market Lavington, 3rd” | The Gardeners Chronicle (2 October 1875). pp. 434-435 |
| 1878 | Auguat | Trowbridge Horticultural and Floral Society | Amateurs or their Gardeners -Fuchsias, 6 Varieties | 1st | “Fuchsias 6 Varieties – 1st, J. Lye. Gardener to the Hon. Mrs. Hay, Market Lavington” | The Bristol Mercury and Daily Post (22 August 1878). Horticultural Fete at Trowbridge. p.3. |
| 1878 | August | Trowbridge Horticultural and Floral Society | Amateurs or their Gardeners -Fuchsias, 4 | 1st | “Fuchsias 4 – 1st, J. Lye” | The Bristol Mercury and Daily Post (22 August 1878). Horticultural Fete at Trowbridge. p.3. |
| 1878 | August | Trowbridge Horticultural and Floral Society | Amateurs or their Gardeners – Geraniums, Tricolour 6 | 3rd | “Geraniums, Tricolour 6 – 3rd, J. Lye” | The Bristol Mercury and Daily Post (22 August 1878). Horticultural Fete at Trowbridge. p.3. |
| 1878 | August | Trowbridge Horticultural and Floral Society | Amateurs or their Gardeners -Petunias, 6 | 1st | “Petunias, 6 – 1st J. Lye” | The Bristol Mercury and Daily Post (22 August 1878). Horticultural Fete at Trowbridge. p.3. |
| 1878 | August | Trowbridge Horticultural and Floral Society | Open to all -Geraniums, Bronze and Silver, 4 | 1st | “Geraniums, Bronze and Silver, 4 – 1st, Mr. J. Lye.” | The Bristol Mercury and Daily Post (22 August 1878). Horticultural Fete at Trowbridge. p.3. |
| 1878 | August | Trowbridge Horticultural and Floral Society | Vegetable – Potatoes, Kidney | 2nd | “Potatoes, Kidney – 2nd, James Lye.” | The Bristol Mercury and Daily Post (22 August 1878). Horticultural Fete at Trowbridge. p.3. |
| 1878 | August | Trowbridge Horticultural and Floral Society | Vegetable – Potatoes, Round | 1st | “Potatoes, Round – 1st, James Lye.” | The Bristol Mercury and Daily Post (22 August 1878). Horticultural Fete at Trowbridge. p.3. |
| 1878 | August | Trowbridge Horticultural and Floral Society | Vegetable – Peas | Commended | “Peas – Commended, J. Lye.” | The Bristol Mercury and Daily Post (22 August 1878). Horticultural Fete at Trowbridge. p.3. |
| 1880 | July | Devizes Horticultural Show | Open to All England – Nine Fuchsias, Distinct | 1st | “Nine Fuchsias, Distinct – 1st, Jas. Lye, gardener to the Hon. Mrs. Hay;” | The Bristol Mercury and Daily Post (31 July 1880). Devizes Horticultural Show. p.5. |
| 1880 | July | Devizes Horticultural Show | Open to All England – Six Geraniums, Variegated, Distinct | 1st | "Six geraniums, variegated, Distinct – 1st, James Lye;” | The Bristol Mercury and Daily Post (31 July 1880). Devizes Horticultural Show. p.5. |
| 1880 | July | Devizes Horticultural Show | Open to all England – Petunias, Distinct | 1st | “Petunias, Distinct – 1st, James Lye;” | The Bristol Mercury and Daily Post (31 July 1880). Devizes Horticultural Show. p.5. |
| 1880 | August | Keevil Flower Show | Pot Flowers – Fuchsias, 6 | 1st | “Fuchsias, 6 – 1st, Jas. Lye (gardener to the Hon. Mrs. Hay, Market Lavington).” | The Bristol Mercury and Daily Post (13 August 1880). Keevil Flower Show. p.3 |
| 1880 | August | Keevil Flower Show | Pot Flowers – Fuchsias, 4 | 1st | “Fuchsias, 4 Varieties – 1st, James Lye;” | The Bristol Mercury and Daily Post (13 August 1880). Keevil Flower Show. p.3 |
| 1880 | August | Keevil Flower Show | Pot Flowers – Geraniums, Variegated, 6 Varieties | 1st | “Geraniums, variegated, 6 Varieties – 1st, James Lye.” | The Bristol Mercury and Daily Post (13 August 1880). Keevil Flower Show. p.3 |
| 1880 | August | Keevil Flower Show | Pot Flowers – Petunias, 6 Varieties | 1st | “Petunias, 6 Varieties – 1st, James Lye;” | The Bristol Mercury and Daily Post (13 August 1880). Keevil Flower Show. p.3 |
| 1880 | August | Keevil Flower Show | Fruit – Apples, culinary | 2nd | “Apples, culinary … ;2nd, James Lye” | The Bristol Mercury and Daily Post (13 August 1880). Keevil Flower Show. p.3 |
| 1880 | August | Keevil Flower Show | Vegetables – Potatoes, Kidney | 1st | “Potatoes, Kidney – 1st, James Lye;” | The Bristol Mercury and Daily Post (13 August 1880). Keevil Flower Show. p.3 |
| 1880 | August | Keevil Flower Show | Vegetables – Potatoes, Round | 1st | “Potatoes, Round – 1st, James Lye;” | The Bristol Mercury and Daily Post (13 August 1880). Keevil Flower Show. p.3 |
| 1880 | August | Keevil Flower Show | Vegetables – Onions, Winter | 1st | “Onions, Winter – 1st, James Lye;” | The Bristol Mercury and Daily Post (13 August 1880). Keevil Flower Show. p.3 |
| 1884 | August | Calne Flower Show, Held at Bowood Park | Open to All England – Plants – Fuchsias | 1st | “Fuchsias, 6 – 1st, Hon. Mrs Hay, Market Lavington (gardener, James Lye);” | The Bristol Mercury and Daily Post (27 August 1884). Calne Flower Show. p.3 |
| 1884 | August | Calne Flower Show, Held at Bowood Park | Open to All England – Plants – Geraniums, Gold, Silver, and Bronze 6 | 1st | Geraniums, Gold, Silver, and Bronze, 6 – 1st, Hon. Mrs Hay;’ | The Bristol Mercury and Daily Post (27 August 1884). Calne Flower Show. p.3 |
| 1884 | August | Calne Flower Show, Held at Bowood Park | Open to All England – Plants – Petunias, 6 | 1st | “Petunias, 6 – 1st, Hon. Mrs. Hay;” | The Bristol Mercury and Daily Post (27 August 1884). Calne Flower Show. p.3 |
| 1884 | August | Calne Flower Show, Held at Bowood Park | Open to All England – Plants – Specimen | 1st | “Specimen Plant – 1st, the Hon. Mrs Hay;” | The Bristol Mercury and Daily Post (27 August 1884). Calne Flower Show. p.3 |
| 1888 | December | The Birmingham Cattle and Poultry Show | Carrots | “While in both the carrot classes Mr. James Lye, of Market Lavington , and the Duke of Portland Share the honours.” | Birmingham Daily Post (3 December 1888). p.4 | |
| 1890 | December | The Birmingham Cattle and Poultry Show | Collection of eighteen mangolds (nine globe and nine mammoth long red) and twelve elephant swedes | Messrs James Carter and Co’s prize | “Class 2 – Messrs James Carter and Co’s prize, value £5. 5s., for collection of eighteen mangolds (nine globe and nine mammoth long red) and twelve elephant swedes: Mr James Lye, Market Lavington, Wilts (Carter’s Seeds).” | Birmingham Daily Post (1 December 1890). p.10 |
| 1892 | November | Birmingham Cattle and Poultry Show | Class 16 – Eight Varieties Distinct – Potatoes | 3rd | “Class 16 – Eight Varieties Distinct.3rd, £1, Mr James Lye, Market Lavington, Wilts” | Birmingham Daily Post (28 November 1892). p.10 |
| 1892 | November | Birmingham Cattle and Poultry Show | Class 20 – Two Varieties Distinct, Long or Kidney shaped -Potatoes | 2nd | “Class 20 – Two Varieties Distinct, Long or Kidney shaped: 2nd, 15s, Mr James Lye, Market Lavington” | Birmingham Daily Post (28 November 1892). p.10 |
| 1893 | November | Birmingham Cattle Show, Bingley Hall | Potatoes | “There is a fine display of potatoes, which are shown in 11 classes. The 1st prize winners included Mr. James Lye, of Market Lavington, Wilts;” | The Morning Post (28 November 1893). p.3 |