Market Town

Northallerton is a market town, it has been for centuries. Twice a week on Wednesday and Saturdays it has the traditional market stalls along the high street but it is the tradition of buying and selling livestock that goes back a long way. This use to happen in the hight street but no more.

The Northallerton Auction Mart, were we have our Man's Shed, has survived for over a century whilst others have not due to wars and things like foot and mouth. These livestock markets are held on a Tuesday and Wednesday so I thought I'd take a look at the process. 

When I say process I think there is one, it happens so quickly and I doubt I'd ever understand what the auctioneer is calling out. The sheep being sold only stay in the pen for seconds then moved on. Next to the auctioneer was a gent that looked as if he was just watching and next to him a young lady with a laptop. She seemed miles away but no doubt understood every word, sale and sometimes took photos of the sheep when they were in the pen. Having seen the details listed on their website she must have recorded a lot of information on the laptop.