Old, and Some New, Photographs of Woodbridge & Melton
In the early 20th century the Lower Fen and the Upper Fen, which were collectively known as Fen Meadow, were given to the town for use as a recreation area.
A condition of the gift, made by Mr E G Prettyman, was that the annual Horse Show should continue to be held on Fen Meadow. This Horse Show, reputed to have been one of the oldest in the country, had originally been held on the Crown Meadows (by Quay Street) as part of the Lady Day Fair.
This photograph of the Suffolk Show was taken in 1865.
When the show was moved to Fen Meadow fencing was erected along the side of the Seckford Street to prevent people seeing the show without paying.
This photograph is of the Horse Show in 1913.
This photograph of the Horse Show was taken in 1920.
The 6.8 acre field was also used as a sports ground and by 1950 there was a concrete cricket pitch and a cycle track there. Due to problems with drainage the sports ground was moved to Kingston Field which had been bequeathed to the town in the late 1940s.
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