Cattle Market and Abattoirs, Crewe

The Company has been incorporated for acquiring certain land situated adjoining the railway station, Crewe on the London and North Western line of railway, and for the erection thereon of a cattle market and abattoirs in connection therewith. It is intended that it will not only be a market for store and fat cattle, horses, sheep and pigs, but also for all farm produce; and consolidate in one centre the numerous small markets to the found in the Midland Counties.

THE CREWE CATTLE MARKET AND ABATTOIRS - The extensive cattle market and abattoirs, in course of construction at Crewe, and at the formal opening of which, on the 30th inst.it is hoped the Prince of Wales will be present, are rapidly approaching completion. Crewe, as the centre of a vast population, possesses many advantages as a site for the establishment of such a market. The promoters of this undertaking have computed that, without. taking into consideration Manchester, Liverpool, and the other large towns of South Lancashire and Yorkshire, there is within a radius of 40 miles a population of upwards of three millions of people. In the matter of railway facilities, it is equalled perhaps by few places in the kingdom, inasmuch as, in addition to its being one of the principal depots of the London and North Western Railway Company, it is in direct communication with the Great Western and North Stafford lines, together with their numerous connections. The scheme has, indeed, the warm support of the directors of the North-Western Railway, who are desirous in particular of developing the Irish cattle trade by means of their system. With this object in view, they have built two large steamers specially fitted for the conveyance of livestock. Each vessel will carry 700 beasts, and these, shipped at Dublin, can be conveyed via Holyhead direct to the Crewe market in about seven hours. All driving of the cattle through the streets from the place of landing to railway stations, reloading in trains, and driving them again from the place. of arrival to the market will be avoided; and thus it will be seen that the animals will reach their pens in much better condition than is ordinarily the case. The steamers run alongside the railway at Holyhead, and at Crewe the London and North-Western Company have constructed a special siding right into the market. An additional advantage will arise from the fact that cattle can be conveyed to their destination at one charge, all dock dues, drovers' fees, etc., which, as rule, considerably increase the cosy before the meat reaches the consumer, being thus dispensed with. Apart however, from the trade with Ireland, the market will afford opportunities for the opening out of trade with Scotland, Wales, and the midland counties. It is intended that not only shall the market be one for store and fat cattle, horses, sheep, and pigs, but also for ail farm produce, and that eventually such accommodation for slaughtering cattle in the abattoirs shall be provided as will suffice for the supply of all the large towns in the north-western and the midland counties, and also enable the market to compete successfully for the supply of the large carcase markets in London.

The area covered by the market is five acres. The main entrance is in Gresty Road, though a large proportion of the stock will be brought in by means of the railway siding constructed by the North-Western Company. This siding, which contains double lines, runs alongside a landing stage 240 yards in length. The stage is the same height as the floor of the trucks, and is fenced off from the line by series of gates, 73 in number. This arrangement will prevent the shunting of the trucks, as wherever truck load of cattle may stop, a gate will be opposite to them through which they can at once be driven into the market. The accommodation provided at present—and should necessity arise it can with ease be increased—is for 1,500 head of cattle, 6,000 sheep, 500 calves, and the same number of pigs. The pens are arranged in broad alleys running from side to side of the market. They are of iron and each will hold 25 beasts or 25 sheep as the case may be, and are so placed that while both classes of stock are near together it will not be possible for them to run one amongst the other as is the case in many markets, and thus a good deal of confusion in driving animals in or out of the market will be avoided. The covered space includes a cattle lair, 165 feet by 50 feet, furnishing accommodation for 250 head of cattle, and similar buildings for calves. sheep, and pigs. These latter are respectively 66 feet by 47 feet, and 47 feet by 33 feet. They are all lofty, well-lighted structures, of brick, with corrugated iron roofs. There are, in addition, three spacious slaughter-houses, in each of which 25 beasts per day can be killed, though, if needful, that number could be exceeded. Immediately adjoining the market is some grass land, sixteen acres in extent, into which cattle can be turned if desirable. Every attention appears to have been paid to the sanitary arrangements of the market. The floor is formed of cinders and burnt ballast from the Crewe Steel Works, upon which are placed four-inch cubes from the Hendon quarries, Macclesfield, run in with asphalt. All the pens are on a slight incline, and the drainage is carried by means of 12inch, 9 inch and 6 inch pipes into the 24inch main, which conveys the sewage to the Crewe sewage farm, some distance away. An excellent supply of town's water is laid on, and hydrants are so placed that after each market the whole place can be flushed and cleansed. For the convenience of people attending the market a spacious building has been erected, which contains refreshment rooms, a series of apartments which have been taken by various banking firms, rooms for the offcials, etc. The market been designed by Mr W. Telford Gunson, architect, of Manchester, and the works carried out under the superintendence of Mr W. Bradshaw, and Mr Frank Broom, the secretary. The amount which has been expended, up to the present time, is about £14,000, exclusive of the cost of constructing the railway siding which has been provided by the London and North-Western Railway Company. The market, it is proposed, shall be held every Monday, commencing July 2. [Manchester Guardian 18 June 1883 page 6]

The new cattle market and abattoirs at Crewe were formally opened on Saturday by Mr Richard Moon, chairman of the London and North Western Railway. The market is contiguous to the Crewe Railway Station, with which there is convenient access by means of a siding, enabling cattle brought by rail to be transferred direct to the pens [Manchester Guardian 2 July 1883 page 3]

Reference    Manchester Guardian 28 March 1882 page 1 - prospectus
Reference    Manchester Guardian Saturday 24 June 1882 Page 6 (Contracts)
Reference    Manchester City News (Tenders) 1 July 1882
Reference    Manchester Guardian 18 June 1883 page 6 - description
Reference    Manchester Guardian 2 July 1883 page 3 - opening
Reference    British Architect 1883 Page 310