Rugby Farmers Mart

The original Rugby Livestock Market was located on a prime site near the town centre and the council had been making plans to redevelop for a number of years. A group of farmers led by Richard Heckford decided to look for alternative sites and MLCSL was engaged to carry out a feasibility study. The existing auctioneers, Howkins & Harrison did not want wish to continue in running a market on another site but they were very supportive of the project and together with the local NFU office provided secretarial, legal and business advice.

After inviting financial support from the local farmers a new company was formed – Rugby Farmers Mart LLP and a new site was chosen at the Royal Agricultural Showground at Stoneleigh. Funding for the new market came from 250 farmer share holders, the Royal Agricultural Society, Howkins & Harrison and Advantage West Midlands.

The market was built on a very tight budget and a local contractor was appointed to manufacture the penning and sale ring. MLCSL and TJ Agriculture worked together to design a layout that could use a combination of standard pens, gates and posts fitted together with standard hinges and fittings. This resulted in considerable pennage savings keeping the overall cost within budget.

The market opened with Howkins & Harrison providing the auctioneering support services but following the appointment of a new manager, Mr Simon Draper, sales are now handled by Rugby Farmers Mart.

At the opening sale Mr Heckford thanked MLCSL for its initial feasibility study that set up the structure of the market and for the technical and engineering advice that enabled the budget to be met.

Click here to view PDF of proposed layout