Rights Managed > Royal Cornwall Museum > Places > Lostwithiel
Cattle market, Lostwithiel, Cornwall. 1973
Filename: TRURI-LOStn-15a.tiff
Size: 7361 x 6980 (51MB)
Date: 2nd April 2019
Source: Royal Cornwall Museum
County: Cornwall
Location Name: 50.406021, -4.675068
© RIC, photographer Charles Woolf
Wall Art and Photo Gifts from Royal Cornwall Museum
Cattle market, Lostwithiel, Cornwall. 1973
A view of the cattle market when empty. The cattle market was situated off North Street in an area now occupied the town car park, which is entered from Restormel Road. Markets have been held in Lostwithiel since the 12th century. What sort of markets is not clear, but prior to the cattle market being opened they were held in Queens Street. The site was formerly known as the old iron mine site, containing the mines offices off North Street. These in turn became the cattle market offices and the market opened in 1908. By the 1930s most farmers were using motor transport and the single entrance at North Street was becoming problematic, forcing some farmers to park their vehicles on Quay Street and drive their cattle through the town via Monmouth Lane (formerly known as Tram Lane) to the Market. The former tramway ran from Restormel Iron Mine, above and near Restormel Castle, down to the harbour in Quay Road, passing through the cattle market site, across North Street into Monmouth Lane across Fore Street, along Quay Street and under the railway bridge into what later became a public park. By 1973 the market was heavily subsidised and it eventually closed in 1976. The sheds in the the photograph are standing on what was the tramway track bed, running right to left. Opposite the sheds, out of picture, are the market offices. They were formerly the iron mine offices, or Count House, which had been modernised for the cattle market administration. The offices still stand today, but have been altered and are used for modern functions. Photographer: Charles Woolf
Royal Cornwall Museum is the UK's Greatest Museum For Cornish Life & Culture
TRURI : LOStn.15a
Media ID 18842329
© RIC, photographer Charles Woolf
Agriculture Boots Farming Greenham Joyce Town Advertisments Arnold Cakes Dunlop Engines Petter Sons
EDITORS COMMENTS
This print captures the essence of a bygone era at the Cattle Market in Lostwithiel, Cornwall. Taken in 1973, the image showcases an empty market, devoid of its usual bustling activity. Situated off North Street, where a town car park now stands, this historic site has been hosting markets since the 12th century. Although it remains unclear what kind of markets were held here prior to the opening of the cattle market, they were previously located on Queens Street. The old iron mine site became home to this thriving marketplace in 1908 when it opened its doors. However, as motor transport gained popularity among farmers in the 1930s, access through a single entrance on North Street became problematic. Some farmers resorted to parking their vehicles on Quay Street and herding their cattle through Monmouth Lane (formerly Tram Lane) into the market. The sheds depicted in this photograph stand proudly along what used to be the tramway track bed that ran from Restormel Iron Mine down to Quay Road's harbor. Opposite these sheds are the former iron mine offices or Count House which had been transformed into modernized cattle market administration offices. By 1973, heavy subsidies sustained this once-thriving marketplace until its eventual closure three years later in 1976. Today, only remnants remain as reminders of Lostwithiel's rich agricultural history. The buildings captured by photographer Charles Woolf still stand but have undergone alterations for contemporary purposes while preserving echoes of their past glory.
MADE IN THE USA
Safe Shipping with 30 Day Money Back Guarantee
FREE PERSONALISATION*
We are proud to offer a range of customisation features including Personalised Captions, Color Filters and Picture Zoom Tools
FREE COLORIZATION SERVICE
You can choose advanced AI Colorization for this picture at no extra charge!
SECURE PAYMENTS
We happily accept a wide range of payment options so you can pay for the things you need in the way that is most convenient for you
* Options may vary by product and licensing agreement. Zoomed Pictures can be adjusted in the Cart.
