As the Wayland Show prepares to welcome thousands of visitors to Watton on Sunday, an extraordinary archive of old photos and documents has emerged which reveals how people enjoyed the show in bygone centuries.

Eastern Daily Press: Photographs of the Wayland Show dating back to the late 19th century have been revealed at Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse museum.Photographs of the Wayland Show dating back to the late 19th century have been revealed at Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse museum. (Image: Sidney George collection, curated by Gressenhall Museum)

Much has changed during the last 100 years, in which our countryside has adapted to the relentless march of progress and fed the nation through two wars.

But, as these evocative old photos prove, the appeal of a summer day out at an agricultural show has remained timeless.

They are part of a Norfolk museum's archive of pictures and documents dating back to the 1850s – thought to be some of the earliest records of the Wayland Show.

Images from bygone show days include goats peering over fences, beet growers proudly displaying huge piles of mangelwurzels, and prizes given to 'Journeymen, Tradesmen, Servants and Labourers' with 'Industrious Habits'.

Eastern Daily Press: Photographs of the Wayland Show dating back to the late 19th century have been revealed at Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse museum.Photographs of the Wayland Show dating back to the late 19th century have been revealed at Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse museum. (Image: Sidney George collection, curated by Gressenhall Museum)

And those who follow in their footsteps at the 144th Wayland Show on Sunday can now see copies of these historical throwbacks as they reflect on their own modern experience of watching livestock competitions and celebrating the bounty from our farmers' fields.

The photographs, part of the large rural collection archived at Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse near Dereham, were uncovered after show chairman Fabian Eagle spotted one in a museum display. Before that, he said the committee had not been aware of their existence.

He said: 'We are very fortunate, because we didn't realise that the Gressenhall rural life museum, through its archive, had a collection of photos from the show – mostly from 1903, but they also had some pictures going back to the 1890s and posters going back to 1858.

'They form a fantastic record of agricultural life, and it has been illuminating to the people of Watton.

Eastern Daily Press: Photographs of the Wayland Show dating back to the late 19th century have been revealed at Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse museum.Photographs of the Wayland Show dating back to the late 19th century have been revealed at Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse museum. (Image: Sidney George collection, curated by Gressenhall Museum)

'The Wayland Show used to encompass the whole town. They held the poultry show at Wayland Hall, which is now the town hall, and there was no breed classification for the cattle. Back then it was 'horned' or 'polled', that was it.'

Like many long-standing traditions, it is difficult to say when the first Wayland Show took place, according to the volunteer committee which runs it.

As long ago as 1460 it is recorded that Watton had four annual fayres, but it was not until the early 19th century that the Wayland Association is recorded giving prizes and arranging exhibitions of livestock, pets and garden produce.

Museum curator Dr Megan Dennis said the collection at Gressenhall – including about 50 photos, two early programmes from 1858 and 1859 and a poster from 1878 – came from an album kept by the family of Sidney George, who lived at the White House in Saham Toney.

Eastern Daily Press: A Wayland Show programme from 1858 is part of a collection at Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse museum.A Wayland Show programme from 1858 is part of a collection at Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse museum. (Image: Gressenhall Museum)

'The images give us a snapshot of what the show was like in days gone by,' she said.

'I didn't know the Wayland Agricultural Society didn't have these, so I think they're really significant. They are probably only fragments of the history of the show existing in people's attics or sheds – so it is wonderful that we have been able to put them on display for today's visitors to see.

'We believe Sidney was the photographer, and the photos are mostly from the turn of the century, between 1900 and 1910.

'They must have been regular visitors to the show, but apart from that we don't know anything. All we have is his name and the place where they were living. If someone knows a bit more about these pictures, it would be fantastic to hear about it.'

Eastern Daily Press: Photographs of the Wayland Show dating back to the late 19th century have been revealed at Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse museum.Photographs of the Wayland Show dating back to the late 19th century have been revealed at Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse museum. (Image: Sidney George collection, curated by Gressenhall Museum)

• Do you know more details about the people in the photographs? Email gressenhall.museum@norfolk.gov.uk.

• The 2017 Wayland Agricultural Show promises a mix of rural traditions and modern countryside entertainment when it opens from 10am to 5pm on Sunday, August 6.

• Discounted advance tickets are on sale until midnight on Friday August 4, but tickets will also be available on the gate. For more information see the Wayland Show website.

Eastern Daily Press: Photographs of the Wayland Show dating back to the late 19th century have been revealed at Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse museum.Photographs of the Wayland Show dating back to the late 19th century have been revealed at Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse museum. (Image: Sidney George collection, curated by Gressenhall Museum)

Eastern Daily Press: Photographs of the Wayland Show dating back to the late 19th century have been revealed at Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse museum.Photographs of the Wayland Show dating back to the late 19th century have been revealed at Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse museum. (Image: Sidney George collection, curated by Gressenhall Museum)

Eastern Daily Press: Photographs of the Wayland Show dating back to the late 19th century have been revealed at Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse museum.Photographs of the Wayland Show dating back to the late 19th century have been revealed at Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse museum. (Image: Sidney George collection, curated by Gressenhall Museum)

Eastern Daily Press: Photographs of the Wayland Show dating back to the late 19th century have been revealed at Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse museum.Photographs of the Wayland Show dating back to the late 19th century have been revealed at Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse museum. (Image: Sidney George collection, curated by Gressenhall Museum)

Eastern Daily Press: Photographs of the Wayland Show dating back to the late 19th century have been revealed at Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse museum.Photographs of the Wayland Show dating back to the late 19th century have been revealed at Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse museum. (Image: Sidney George collection, curated by Gressenhall Museum)

Eastern Daily Press: Photographs of the Wayland Show dating back to the late 19th century have been revealed at Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse museum.Photographs of the Wayland Show dating back to the late 19th century have been revealed at Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse museum. (Image: Sidney George collection, curated by Gressenhall Museum)

Eastern Daily Press: Photographs of the Wayland Show dating back to the late 19th century have been revealed at Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse museum.Photographs of the Wayland Show dating back to the late 19th century have been revealed at Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse museum. (Image: Sidney George collection, curated by Gressenhall Museum)

Eastern Daily Press: Photographs of the Wayland Show dating back to the late 19th century have been revealed at Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse museum.Photographs of the Wayland Show dating back to the late 19th century have been revealed at Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse museum. (Image: Sidney George collection, curated by Gressenhall Museum)