It soon ran out of space and in 1913 moved to the Royal Hospital in Chelsea where it has been held, annually, with just two short breaks, every year since.
During the Second World War the Show was cancelled as the site was needed for by the War Office for an anti-aircraft station. In recent years some gardens have prompted the comment that the anti-aircraft installations were never removed.
The site's the thing...
There have been regular suggestions that the Show be transferred to a more spacious site: Battersea Park across the river, and the disused Pyrford airfield near the Society's gardens at Wisley in Surrey, were always the front runners. But the RHS has always felt that Chelsea should be in Chelsea and their substantial new investment in the marquees and associated services ensure it will remain here.
Whether there's weather...
This being England, the weather has been a constant factor in the fortunes of the show. In 1928, the storm the night before the opening day was so torrential that the drains of the marquees were blocked by hailstones wand the site was flooded. The next morning the show opened as usual. A few years ago the gales were so fierce that there were fears the creaky old marquee would collapse. But the Show went on.
The fee... then and now
And Chelsea has always been pretty exclusive affair. In 1913 it cost £1 to get in - quite a sum then. Now there are various degrees of exclusivity. There's the charity gala on the evening before the Show opens which attracts corporate sponsors and people who enjoy being seen more than seeing the exhibits. Then on Tuesday and Wednesday entrance is restricted to RHS members who pay up to £20 each. On the public days an all day ticket can cost £27, with £12 being the most affordable.
The Web and Chelsea...
Fortunately the internet has now made Chelsea available to everyone. Web coverage began in 1997 when the American website Virtual Garden reported live from the Show and now this year e-garden brings you the most extensive coverage ever. Chelsea is certainly a great tradition, but it's changing with the times.
