About

History of Frome Market

The town of Frome is first recorded as being a 'market town' within the Domesday book in 1086. A Royal Charter to hold a market was subsequently granted by Henry III on 1239, with the market day changing from Saturday to Wednesday in 1494.

Selling by auction increased in popularity in the 18th and 19th century, and by 1875 the market had moved closer to railway sidings to accommodate the increase in animal movement by train. The last move, to its current purpose built site at Standerwick, took place in 1990.

PLA Today

Frome Market is owned and operated by Premier Livestock Auctions Ltd – formerly Yeovil Livestock Auctioneers Ltd – a company established by the late Mr. Ian MacNicol in 1993. Following his death in 2006 his widow, Mrs Adel MacNicol DL, became Chairman and her son, George, is one of the Directors. Both continue to take a very active and real interest in ensuring the provision of effective and professional marketing services to the local farming community.

Markets are held every Wednesday (fat cattle, cull cows, calves, dairy cows and both fat and store sheep) and every Friday (store cattle).

Suckler cow and calf sales are held on one Wednesday in every month, and sales of organic store cattle take place on one Friday in every month.

Frome is acknowledged and recognised as being one of the largest and most important store cattle markets in the country, with over 40,000 being presented and sold in 2010.