128 WESTMORLAND AGRICULTURE. 1800-1900 



Horses in the New Road between the junction with Mitchellgate and 

 the corner of Mr. Roper's Stables and all Shows and Caravans were to 

 be stationed near the wall of the Church Yard." 



In 1825 the ancient cattle and sheep fair, formerly held on Maundy 

 Thursday was re-established, and between that year and 1829, Holy 

 Thursday and that day three weeks and St. Thomas' fairs were added, 

 so they continued till a new Spring Fair was started for stock of all 

 kinds in i860 on the first Thursday in April, to be followed by a show 

 of stallions, for which in the year following prizes were given in three 

 classes, the first prize being a silver medal in each class. 



In 1862 a fortnightly fair was started for cattle and sheep, on 

 Tuesday, the 24th of June, the fair opening at 8 a.m. ; the year follow- 

 ing, the day on which it was held was changed to Monday, and two 

 years later, 1865, a butter market was started on Tuesday, the 3rd of 

 January, when about 1500 lbs. were on offer and sold at isjd. per lb. ; 

 this market was held weekly ; in 1870 another change was made in the 

 fortnightly fair day, this time Wednesday being chosen ; matters were 

 not progressing very favourably about this time and in 1883 a great 

 effort was made to revive the markets ; in this year the Concert Hall 

 was opened as a market on Thursday, August i6th, for butter and other 

 produce and prizes were offered for the best butter and eggs for which 

 there were on the first occasion : — 



26 entries for Butter from large dairies. 



16 „ „ 30 lb. to 50 lb. dairies. 



20 ,, ,, 5 lb. to 20 lb. dairies. 



This effort, however, soon faded away. 



In the same year the fortnightly fair was revived ; it was started 

 on Wednesday, the 6th of June, and was held on each alternate 

 Wednesday during the summer months ; in 1890 the day was once more 

 changed to Tuesday ; it was still only being held in the summer. 



In 1900 the fairs held were on the second Thursday in February 

 and March, the first Thursday in April, Holy Thursday — three weeks 

 after Holy Thursday, October 5th and St. Thomas' Day, December 

 2ist, for cattle and sheep, and the market on Thursdays each week. 



An Auction Mart was started in 1903 ; for the year ending Decem- 

 ber, 1905, 948 head of cattle, 1278 sheep and 10 horses passed through 

 the ring. 



