From Worcestershire Chronicle July 16 1887.
NEW CATTLE MARKET AT LEDBURY.
For many years the Ledbury monthly cattle market has been held in the High and Homend streets. These streets are unusually wide, but nevertheless of late years the townspeople, and the buyers and sellers, have come to feel that this arrangement was decidedly inconvenient, and moreover tended to dwarf the dimensions of the market.
Latterly some of the auctioneers have been holding their sales in private yards, and in this way the market held every second Tuesday in the month was gradually splitting up, and indirectly sellers were driven to take their stock to other markets.
As far back the reign of Queen Elizabeth, powers were vested in the lords of the manor, for there are five, to receive tolls from the markets held in the streets. These tolls have not amounted to much, and have been held in trust for the town.
It had occurred to several gentlemen, particularly Mr. M. Biddulph, M.P., that it was highly desirable that a proper cattle market should be obtained, not only for the convenience of the townspeople, but in order to keep up the market by providing adequate conveniences for both buyer and seller. Ledbury market was at one time of considerable magnitude, but has in some degree dwindled. It is well situated in the centre of a wide cattle raising district, and the town has good railway communication with the capital towns of Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, and Herefordshire. Many farmers in the district have been in the habit of sending their stock by road to the markets of one or other of these towns. Naturally this involved trouble and expense, and was not calculated improve the appearance of animals when they came under the hammer of the auctioneer.
At the beginning of the present year Mr. Jesse Garrood ascertained that land could be obtained in a central position well suited for a cattle market; energetic steps were taken, the land diplomatically purchased at a very moderate sum, and a limited company, called the Ledbury Markets and Fairs Company, formed.
A Board of directors was constituted as follows:
Messrs. E. J. Webb (chairman), T. Hodges, C. W. Stephens, Luke Tilley, James Freeman, J. D. Evans, T. E. Mayo, and Mr. J. Garrood (secretary). The capital of the company is £1,500, in 300 shares of £5 each. All the shares have been subscribed, and £2 paid up. The land, about three acres in extent, consisted of two orchards, reaching out south from just below the Post office in New street through to Bye street on the north. It cost £1,000.
Mr. Gray, surveyor, of Tewkesbury, was appointed to superintend the work. The contract of Mr. G. Law, of Kidderminster, to level the land and make road through from New street to Bye street, was accepted, and Mr. T. Walker, of Tewkesbury, was commissioned to supply iron railing pens for the cattle. The cost of these works was £700. It was found that only about half the area was necessary for the market, and the other part has been advantageously disposed of for building purposes for no less a sum than £800.
Accommodation has been provided for 700 sheep, pigs, and 250 cattle. On Tuesday the market was formally opened, all animals, for that day only, being admitted toll free. As result there was not only a large supply of stock, there being 600 sheep, 300 pigs, cattle, and 30 horses, but a great number of buyers and sellers present; and there is every prospect that the market held under these improved conditions will grow in importance and utility. The road through it will be great convenience to the townspeople. The tolls, it is understood, will be very light, and thus be a further encouragement to the farmers of the district to send their stock to the market. A circular was sent round the sellers and buyers enquiring whether they were favour of fortnightly stock sales instead of monthly sales, and majority expressed themselves in favour of continuing to hold only monthly sales as heretofore.
After the market on Tuesday, there was public dinner in a marquee on the market ground. There were a great number present. Mr. M. Biddulph, M.P., presided and Mr. E. J. Webb occupied the vice chair.
Amongst the company were: Mr. C. W. R. Cooke, M.P., the Revs. A. Bannister, M. Hopton, F. Stoke- Vaughan, P. Whitefoord, Dr. Parkes, Messrs. T. J. Elliott, Jesse Garrood, J. Valentine Stallard (Worcester), E. Maddison, J. Freeman, H. V. Smith, T. Hodges, F. Hodges, F. Burden, J. Clarke. C. W. Stephens, Luke Tilley, E. Clarke, H. Meats, J Parr, J. Harding, J. R. Smith, R. Homes, B. Bastow, C. H. Bastow, W. Manton, J. Hillman (Worcester), W. Scattergood, T. S. S. Gardner, Witts (Hereford), C. Bixley, J. Manning, G. Palmer, Walker (2), T. Lane, E. Lane, Stock (Lentridge), T. C. Webb, Dent, W. Pritchett, C. T. Ockey, V. Smith, W. Hartland, T. Gardner (Bosbury), J. H. Pitt, Bartlett, J. Barnett, C. T. Jones, Horton, Boulter, T. Russell, Russell (Malvern), J. Hooper, Davies, (Fair Tree), H. Horton, Boyd, W. Hampton, C. P. Ford, Brazier (Bosbury), Stephens (Tarrington), Wetson (3), W. J. Brown. Stephens (Hereford), John Evans, J. Cummins, J. C. Riley, S. Badcock, Dew (Much Marcle), Hawkins (2), Barnett (2), Cowell, G. Wargent, Robert Preece, J. Hill. Weston (Much Marcle). Palmer (Chichester), W. Spencer, J. Spencer, Caleb Spencer, James (Henberrows), Best. (Much Marcle), S. Cowles, Cotton, Nash (Colwall), Bullock, McDonald, Peake, Mews, J. W. Wilson, W. Pearce, S. Handley, J. Holder, S. Walker, V. Smith, C. Smith, C. Pedlingham, J. Davies, C. Baylis (Kempsey) J. Allington (Kempsey), Cox, W. Gostling, Lomas, Fowler, W. J. Brown, Pritchett, and J. Hill.
The CHAIRMAN gave "The Queen" which was loyally received and he then gave "Success to the Ledbury Market". (Applause). He thought no one could have resided in the town for any length of time without recognising the inconveniences arising from the markets taking place the streets of the town. (Hear hear). It had long been matter of surprise to him that something had not been done years ago by the town for the improvement of the accommodation of the market, because if they wanted to do their business well they must have a proper place to do it in. (Hear hear.)
At the beginning of tbe present year Mr. Garrood drew his attention to the fact that there was some land to be sold which he thought would make a very suitable market. There were many things to be done before they were able to purchase the land. In the first place they had to secure it at a proper price. If it had been known for what object it was required there would have been many difficulties the way of their obtaining possession of it.
In the second place, the lords of the manor had the right, under a charter the reign of Queen Elizabeth of holding markets Ledbury. They had to get the consent of the lords of the manor, and, as there were five of them, they had some little trouble in negotiating with them for the purpose of obtaining the acquiescence in the project.
He went to Lady Henry Somerset, who was quite willing to do anything that would be for the good of the town (applause) and having obtained her consent, the consent of the other lords of the manor was without difficulty secured.
In the meantime Mr. Garrood was negotiating for the purchase of the land. He carried out his part of the business in a most successful manner, and they were indebted to him (Mr. Garrood) for the market as it then existed (Applause). If they had had to purchase the land at a very high price there would have been no possible chance of their paying a dividend, but through his (Mr. Garrood's) good management and the good management of other gentlemen concerned, they had been enabled to sell off such portion of the land which was not required as would recoup them in great measure for the expense of buying the land, so much so that if the market was to be success, and he had very little doubt it would be, he could not help thinking that the directors, if they wished to issue any new shares, would do wisely if they issued them at a premium.
He thought they were very favourably situated for a market. They were nearer Birmingham and the large centres of population of the Midland Counties; 15 miles nearer than Hereford or Gloucester and he thought people who had stock to sell would go there in preference to sending their cattle to Hereford or Gloucester.
Now that they had good railway accommodation through the district, he looked forward to a large increase in the stock being brought there. He considered they ought also to establish a market for the sale of fruit and cider; because at the present time buyers and sellers of cider did not meet in market to determine the sale prices, the buyers decided the price according to the quantity they thought was likely to come in, and growers of fruit sent their produce to distant markets, and in some instances never received their money nor even had the empty baskets returned. (Hear, hear).
Mr. T. O. Webb (Ledbury) responded on behalf of the buyers, and said he was sanguine the market would be a great success if the auctioneers and buyers and sellers co-operated one with the other in a proper spirit.
Mr. T. Ockey replied for the farmers, and was also of the opinion that the market would be successful if they worked well together. The sale they had had that day augured well for the future. Hitherto he had sent his cattle to Hereford, but henceforth he should send them to Ledbury, and he hoped other farmers would do the same. (Applause.) He considered the suggestion of the chairman respecting a cider and fruit market as being very excellent.
Mr. John Parr replied for the tradesmen, spoke of the inconvenience that had been experienced by holding the markets in the streets, and said the site of the market was an admirable one.
Mr. T. HODGES, speaking on behalf of the auctioneers, said he was highly gratified to hear from the previous speakers that they were on the road to making something better of Ledbury market than what it had been heretofore.
Mr. Radcliffe Cooke, M.P., gave "The Market Company," and said they were greatly indebted to the company for providing the market, and complimented them on having disposed of the superfluous land on such advantageous terms. He said Ledbury was a corn growing and cattle raising district, and if the market was conducted well must be a success. He mentioned that in respect to a Bill in the House of Commons which he thought would interfere with cider growing, he had made some observations recently in the House, and it was his intention to follow those observations with some action which he hoped would be supported all the members for Herefordshire. (Hear hear).
The Vice-Chairman (Mr. E. J. Webb), replied. He said the success of the market would depend upon the support given by the neighbourhood generally, by the farmers sending stock. and so attracting the dealers from a distance. The company would be happy take into consideration any suggestions that might be made to make the market more perfect than it then was.
The Rev. M. Hopton gave "The Contractors," and spoke of the substantial work they had done. Mr. Cooper responded on behalf of Mr. Law, and Mr. Walker also responded. Mr. Burden gave the chairman, Mr. C. W. Stephens the vice-chairman, and Mr. Manton "Our Host" (Mr. Best, of the New Inn), and these toasts having been acknowledged, the gathering dispersed.