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The Cattle Market, Cherry Hinton Road

Historical notes on the Cattle Market

Cambridge Cattle Market moved here in the 1890s from its previous site on Castle Hill.  This became the finest cattle market in East Anglia as well as the venue for the most popular easter Bank Holiday market in the region. The site was closed in 1976 when the city council decided to realize the value of the area for development.

Cattle Market area in 1927

Cattle Market area in 1927

The pens at the market could accommodate 700 bullocks and 2,000 sheep or pigs, Hundreds of cattle were moved by ship and train to the market every week from Ireland and Scotland. The steamers with Irish cattle destined for Cambridge sailed every weekend and this was why Monday was chosen as market day. (CWN)

Cattle market, Cherry Hinton Road

Cattle market, Cherry Hinton Road

Cattle Market, Cherry Hinton Road, 1963.

In 1996 plans for a new £15 million leisure complex on the site were published. The plans included a multiplex cinema, nightclub, bowling and themed restaurants.

Sources: Cambridge News (Cambridgeshire Collection)

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