How Skipton Auction Mart has developed over the years

Opening in the summer of 1990, it provided the local agricultural community with state-of-the-art facilities, which were expected to be the blueprint for other similar developments across the country.

There was much excitement as farming had gone through some difficult times, with milk quotas, threats to hill farming, demands for biodiversity and conservation, salmonella and the row over so-called Mad Cow Disease.

The new mart was seen a credit to the industry - for, while investment had been high in financial terms, even more significant was that it was an investment in the future.

"Agriculture has always been the backbone of the area's economy," said the Herald at the time. "After all Skipton is a derivation from 'Sheeptown'. It gives this area its character."

Cattle markets had been held in Skipton for centuries. Initially they were held on the High Street, with cattle and sheep overflowing into adjoining thoroughfares. There was no auctioneer in those days. Instead, bargaining was done on an individual basis - often after protracted argument - and the deal would be sealed by the shake of a hand.

And it was not only livestock "sold" there. The High Street was the venue of the popular hiring fairs - when would-be haytime workers, notably Irish men, would parade up and down while farmers cast a critical eye over the strength of their back and forearms. Offers were made and deals would include lodgings, food and an hourly or weekly rate.

Later, sales were moved to an open air market behind the town hall in Jerry Croft - now one of the town's main car parks.

The first official Skipton Auction Mart was held on Monday, July 5, 1886, when John Throup and WH Davis organised a sale of 81 fat sheep, eight fat bullocks and heifers, one springing heifer, an in-calf cow, two bulls and a couple of carts.

Subsequent sales were held fortnightly, with fat and store stock predominant, and a new auction mart was built on a site on Broughton Road, which is now occupied by Morrisons supermarket.

As farmers starting coming from across the north, the facility expanded to meet demand, but, by the 1980s, it became obvious that further development of the site was not possible.

"There was no alternative, but to sell the site and move," said the then Craven Cattle Marts chairman Stephen Butcher.

By that time, parking was totally inadequate, the sale rings were too small to cope with the large number of sheep, lambs and cattle coming forward and alterations were needed to comply with new welfare regulations.

So after 96 years, the auctioneer's gavel fell for the final time at the Broughton Road mart in 1990.

Finding a new site had been a long and protracted business, but eventually a deal was agreed for land to the west of Airedale School, off Gargrave Road.

The cost of the new mart was £3 million and the work involved removing around 100,000 tons of earth, bringing in 100,000 tons of stone, topping it with 16,000 tons of concrete and installing miles of tubular fencing to create pens.

Designed by local architect James Wales, of Wales, Wales and Rawson, and built by another local firm JN Bentley, the new centre was a village-like complex with banks, shops, a cafe and parking for cars and animal transporters.

It had provision for the animals to be cleaned in their pens and for the concreted areas to be washed down and the sewage removed using smooth pipework with very few joints to overcome the danger of blockages. There was also considerable landscaping, with trees and bushes planted around the site. There were also numerous flower beds.

At the official opening, solicitor Jack Mewies, who had helped with the legal negotiations, said the mart showed imagination and skill and would stand as a memorial to all concerned. It was one of the finest, if not the finest, in the north of England.

He also praised mart secretary Paddy Wrightson and the directors for taking a decision that had required "courage and perspicacity".

And Mr Butcher, writing in the Craven Herald, said the frontage of the mart gave the impression of a cluster of farm buildings, but behind the facade was a modern auction market. The sale rings, especially, were outstanding.

The first sale at the new facility was held on June 25, 1990, and featured newly-calven cows and heifers, calves, prime cattle, sheep and pigs.

First to go under the hammer was a Limousin heifer, given by an anonymous donor, with all the proceeds going to Save the Children. It was a farming tradition to give the money from the sale of the first animal to charity in a bid to attract good luck.

The heifer was bought by David Bean, Bentley's contracts director, who returned it to the market for resale. In all, it went under the hammer three times, making more than £1,800 for the children's charity.

Mr Butcher said he was pleased with the proceedings and noted he had never seen so many people at Skipton Auction Mart.

A report in the Craven Herald added: "It did, indeed, seem as though much of the local population had turned out to experience the occasion and the people actually buying and selling were far fewer than the people who were simply onlookers.

"Never, by any stretch of the imagination, could the old Broughton Road mart in the town have accommodated the number of vehicles at the new Aireville site.

"Faces seen for many years past at the old mart looked suitably content with their new surroundings, although only time will tell whether they are content with the workings of it. For, however good the market looks - and it cannot be denied that the stone-faced buildings look very impressive - it needs, more than anything else, to be functional."

A future history feature will recall Princess Anne's visit to the new mart.