Some were still queueing at 11.30am. On the South Street frontage sheep trucks backed against their semi-open shed. In early days houses fronted South Street, with an archway into the market. Ex-farmer John Studley, formerly of Broadwindsor's Common Farm, attends market out of interest. His father rented from 1914, before purchasing the farm, which John and his late brother ran until 10 years ago.
Old habits die hard.
High exchange rates, foreign markets covered elsewhere during the BSE ban and our own stiff regulations on rearing conditions and transportation all conspire against agriculture. They purchase the best, farmers send the remainder to market - prices obtained there are consequently low. Next time, the supermarket or abattoir representative makes an offer based on recent market prices - and a downward spiral begins. When nothing comes to market, sooner or later that market will go. Axminster's site would be worth a fortune for housing or other development, but neither auctioneers nor farmers I met showed any inclination to let this happen at present.