The Cattle Market in Nottingham evokes a host of memories from local people and has been much loved for many years.  Even though the cattle market finished in 1993 the area is still known as The Cattle Market and its market days, stalls, independent businesses and the auction houses of Arthur Johnson breathe life and character into this unique part of the city.

In Spring 2021 a project was launched to record the wonderful heritage of The Cattle Market and Eastcroft.  Funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund a CIC was established under the management of Georgianna Scurfield, a local journalist and film-maker.  The aim was to research the history of the site, record oral histories of visitors and employees of Cattle market firms, make animations, a documentary film and involve schools and the community as part of the project.

At one time cattle and sheep and other livestock were sold in the market place in the middle of Nottingham but as the town’s population grew this became impractical. Eventually a purpose-built Cattle Market was created at East Croft, the site of the town’s Sanitary Depot, on the south side of Nottingham. The Market  was opened in 1886 and linked up with local railway sidings so livestock could be transported in and out of the town more easily. The site included pens, offices, refreshment rooms and banking premises. Soon other sales began at the site and in 1888 Arthur Johnson established his auction house that now occupies a large part of the area. It attracts sellers and buyers from all over the city and far beyond. A fire at The Cattle Market a few years ago did damage to some local buildings and caused some firms to shut down but despite this and Covid 19 the Cattle Market is very much back on its feet and ready for business.

The project has recorded 20 oral histories .  Many of those recorded have colourful memories of the area, stories of their livestock winning awards, meeting friends at the market, buying bargains at the auction houses and recalling life in earlier days in the Meadows and other districts that surrounded East Croft. A photographer has recorded portraits of local staff and visitors, a documentary film captures the atmosphere of the site and animations have given hours of fun to children. There’s been lots going on.