Monument record 14974 - Crewe Cattle Market and Abattoir Company

<1> Cheshire County Council, 2002, Cheshire Historic Towns Survey: Crewe & Nantwich Borough Part 1: Archaeological Assessments, Crewe p.12 (Report). SCH6691.

'...The ‘Crewe Cattle Market and Abattoir Company Limited’ which was established during 1883 opened an integrated market centre, comprising lairages, abattoirs and a railway siding, and held livestock sales on a weekly basis…The markets continued to flourish, and in 1920 it was recorded that ‘Crewe could be called the third greatest centre for the sale of livestock in Great Britain’…' (see 2).

<2> Chaloner W H, 1950, The Social and Economic Development of Crewe 1780-1923, p.101-3 (Book). SCH8024.

<3> Porter RE, 1976, The Marketing of Agricultural Produce in Cheshire During the 19th Century, p.146 (Article in Journal). SCH8724.

‘…In 1882 the Crewe Cattle Market and Abattoir Company Limited was formed with the object of deflecting as much as possible of the Irish and foreign cattle trade from Liverpool and Birkenhead, by making use of the reconstructed Holyhead Old Harbour which had direct railway communications with Crewe…’

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1909-1912, Ordnance Survey Second Revision County Series (Epoch 3) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ7054, 1910 (Maps and Plans). SCH4361.

This map depicts the cattle market. Animal pens are located in the northern part of the site with a number of buildings, including two large rectangular ones, in the southern part.

<5> Chambers S, 2007, Crewe: A History (Book). SCH8725.

<6> Various, Various, Oral communication to the HER, Edwards R, 09/07/2019 (Oral Communication). SCH2330.

The inside cover of Crewe: A History (see 5) reproduces an advert for Frank Lloyd and Sons, livestock salesmen. This advert dated 23rd of May 1921 includes an illustration of the market. The two large rectangular buildings depicted on the 1910 Ordnance Survey map are each labelled as being stabling for 150 horses. The buildings to their north are the sales rings with seating for 1000 and to their west are pens for 500 sheep and pigs. The area north of these buildings, depicted as pens on the Ordnance Survey map, appears to be a large parade ring. Other buildings depicted on the illustration include offices and a bank. At the far southern end of the site is a ???? ground for hunters (horses suitable for hunting with hounds).

<7> Huntings Surveys Ltd, 1971-1973, 1971-1973 County Survey, Run 32 no.2417, 16/05/1973 (Aerial Photograph). SCH4881.

The market, as depicted on the 1910 Ordnance Survey map (see 4) is largely intact. The westernmost stable building has been demolished as have the buildings associated with the sales rings depicted on the advert of 1921 (see 5). New buildings lie to their west and a further new building has been added to the area of the sheep and pig pens depicted on the advert.

<8> JA Story & Partners, 1985, 1985 Story & Partners Survey, Run 25 no.207, 30/05/1985 (Aerial Photograph). SCH2993.

Much of the site is open space and many of the buildings have been demolished.