Tuesday 6 February 2018

Meat Shortage at Leighton Buzzard



Leighton Buzzard High Street on market day c.1920 [Z1130/72/29]

Wednesday 6th February 1918: The shortage of animals available for sale at Leighton Buzzard market continues to be acute. Yesterday only seven fat cattle and five sheep were sent for sale, although the auctioneers Messrs. Cumberland and Hopkins were able to increase the supply to fourteen cattle and twenty eight sheep. All the local butchers were therefore able to receive a reasonable quantity of meat, although still some way short of the amount to which they are entitled. Most have closed their shops again today and are intending to open only for half the day tomorrow and Saturday. A hundred poultry were also sold at the market, realising prices ranging from six shillings for an ancient rooster to sixteen shillings and sixpence, with an average price of ten shillings.

Source: Leighton Buzzard Observer, 12th February 1918

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