There has been a Northampton Poultry Club dating back to the Mid 1850's with our first known recording of the Club advertising the Club Show over two days on 22-23 October 1854 in Northampton and the then Club secretary was a Mr C Hillier of 11 Poole Street Northampton. The Current Poultry Club was started In 1996 when a young poultry fancier called Fleur Hulme from Brixworth thought that it would be a good idea to try and form a club of other like-minded enthusiasts. So with the help of her parents she contacted as many local poultry keepers as she could find and asked them if they would be interested in forming a club for Northamptonshire. Fleur arranged a meeting and in the spring of 1996, 12 people turned up to the Royal Oak pub in Crick. After that promising start and with Fleur's enthusiasm and dedication the first show was planned. Fleur knew of a certain Mr Adkins (now sadly deceased ) a top breeder of Minorcas. When Mr Adkins joined the new club, he recalled that as a young man he had also been involved in a 'Northampton Poultry Club' that held its meetings in a working men's club in the town.
Please watch the slideshow
Slide show features the first Poultry Show of the modern day N&DPC in 1996 opened by the Mayor of Northampton.
The first small club show was organized and people from all over the county and the surrounding area supported the event. Held at the village hall at Crick, Northamptonshire, the New Club was soon affiliated to the Poultry Club of Great Britain as it continues to be today. In 1997 Mr John Messenger took on the Key role of N&DPC secretary, a role that John held for the next 15 years until 2012, John Continues to have an active role in the club and is currently the clubs Vice Chairman. The next secretary was Mark Anderson-Howe from 2012 - summer 2017, Nick Trotman then took over the role until April 2018. John Messenger is our current secretary.
The first small club show was organized and people from all over the county and the surrounding area supported the event. Held at the village hall at Crick, Northamptonshire, the New Club was soon affiliated to the Poultry Club of Great Britain as it continues to be today. In 1997 Mr John Messenger took on the Key role of N&DPC secretary, a role that John held for the next 15 years until 2012, John Continues to have an active role in the club and is currently the clubs Vice Chairman. The next secretary was Mark Anderson-Howe from 2012 - summer 2017, Nick Trotman then took over the role until April 2018. John Messenger is our current secretary.
To mark Johns Messengers valued long service as Northampton & District Poultry Clubs secretary for 15 years John was presented with an engraved glass plate featuring Old English Game birds which are one of John's favourite breeds
Poultry shows where held at Crick Village Hall up to 2006 the shows then moved to Marrowell farm West Haddon where the clubs poultry shows where held from 2007 - till the Spring show of 2012. From the autumn of 2012 to the autumn of 2014 Shows were held at Blisworth Scout Hall due to increasing show numbers in November 2014 the decision was taken to move the show to a bigger venue at Bugbrooke Community Centre where the first show was held in the spring of 2015 with great success for our first regional class show . The club has continued to hold the Club's Annual Egg Shows in Crick at either the Old School Meeting Room or the Village Hall. The two annual poultry shows (Spring & Autumn) currently attract over 500 entries with our recent shows (Spring 2016) attracting a total of 675 entries (555 birds + 120 Eggs Classes).
(Autumn 2016) attracting a total of 539 entries (468 birds + 71 Eggs Classes).
(Autumn 2016) attracting a total of 539 entries (468 birds + 71 Eggs Classes).