Looking back
The picture below is taken from an old tinted photo-postcard, which
shows us the view from Northampton Road during the very early part
of the 20th century. Taken probably just after the livestock market
was moved to this location in 1903, it clearly shows the holding pens
on the left, and the auctioneer's building on the right.
For more information on the old livestock market, visit the Bygone
Harborough section.
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The
Settling Rooms
This listed building features a large amount of Edwardian decorative stone.
It was built in 1902, and was once a central feature of the town's cattle
market. Originally, it was used as the market offices, where the farmers
'settled' their accounts. During the 1970's and 80's, it became very much
a social centre on market days with a thriving cafe where farmers and
townsfolk would mingle. Today however, the market has moved to a site
Northwest of the town between the villages of Lubenham
and Foxton. The Rooms are now left standing, isolated in the centre of
Sainsbury's car park. More recently the building housed the Radio Cafe,
and for a while, was also the home of The
Big Dial Co Radio Station, which was one of several FM radio stations
to have a temporary license to broadcast locally.
 Redevelopment
During the redevelopment of the former cattle market site in 1993, Harborough
District Council commissioned extensive restoration of the settling rooms.
The building is now a community centre and houses the Market Harborough
Volunteer Bureau, South Leicestershire Council for Voluntary Service,
and the community rooms, which are available for hire, Tel. 01858 821010
for more details.
Right: The Settling Rooms undergoing restoration in April 1993. Picture
by Deborah Seabrook.
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