Hereford Poultry Auction (Old Livestock Market)

In the heart of Herefordshire once stood a rural tradition that symbolised the county’s agricultural identity—Hereford Poultry Auction. Held at the historic Old Livestock Market, Hereford, it was a weekly event where farmers, traders, and locals gathered to trade domestic fowl, swap stories, and sustain a centuries-old way of life.

This blog post is a visual story from my 2009 visit to Hereford Poultry Auction—just two years before the Old Livestock Market, which included the poultry sales, permanently closed on June 15, 2011, as confirmed by The Hereford Times. Its closure marked the end of a significant chapter in Herefordshire’s farming history and the loss of a rural tradition that had persisted for generations.

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Inside Sunderland’s Salerooms

When I visited in July 2009 with my Contax G2 35mm camera loaded with Kodak Tri-X 400 black & white film, the atmosphere inside Sunderland’s Salerooms—a weathered brick building—was dim and enchanting. Light poured through narrow windows, casting dramatic shadows that made the space inside feel timeless.

Cages lined the walls, filled with chickens, ducks, geese, chicks, and ducklings. Buyers circled the room, inspecting the birds before bidding began. Hereford Poultry Market was a place of ritual, filled with the ambient sounds of clucks, squawks, and lively conversation.

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The Allure of Hereford Poultry Auction

Back then, Hereford Poultry Auction drew everyone, from smallholders and breeders to restaurant buyers and families seeking geese for Christmas. It wasn’t just commerce; it was continuity. A space where generations came together to uphold traditions that defined rural life in Herefordshire.

Although the facilities were modest, the sense of community was strong. The Hereford poultry sale reminded visitors that agriculture is not just an industry—it’s a way of life.

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The Market’s Closure and a National Ban on Poultry Sales

The closure of the Old Livestock Market, including the poultry auction, in 2011 marked the end of live poultry trading in the city. Since then, developers have transformed the old site into the modern Old Market Shopping Centre.

In 2025, the British Frozen Food Federation (BFFF) banned all poultry sales and markets in England, Scotland, and Wales to combat avian flu. This nationwide restriction on poultry gatherings further underscores how much has changed in the landscape of UK livestock trading.

So, if you’re searching for auction dates, times, or locations, it’s important to note that Hereford Poultry Auction no longer operates. However, some single-vendor sales elsewhere in the UK still occur.

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A Final Glimpse into the Old Livestock Market Hereford

My 2009 visit captured one of the final chapters of the Hereford Poultry Auction. The images I took are now part of a historical record, a visual farewell to a tradition that had weathered decades of change before finally ending.

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Summary: Remembering Hereford Poultry Auction

Through timeless black & white film photography, this post preserves the memory of Hereford Poultry Auction at the Old Livestock Market, where community, agriculture, and tradition once thrived.

Although the UK has banned poultry gatherings and the Hereford Poultry Market has closed, its legacy endures. These rare images offer a window into a way of life that once shaped Herefordshire’s rural identity—one auction, one bird, and one Saturday morning at a time.

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Hereford Poultry Auction – Photo Gallery

Enjoy a selection of images from my 2009 visit, capturing the atmosphere and moments of a now-vanished rural tradition.

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If you enjoyed this post, please share it with fellow lovers of farming history, traditional markets, and documentary photography. Let’s keep the memory of Hereford’s rural tradition alive.