MANY centuries of Monmouth being a market town came to an end last Friday when the last sale of livestock was held.

The closure came as contractors moved in to begin construction of a new road bridge over the nearby River Monnow to replace the existing historic gateway.

While the closure is a blow to local farmers, there is hope that the local authority that owns the site will agree to another market being built in the area.

Discussions have been underway for sometime between the council, the auctioneers, Newland Rennie Wilkins, and other interested bodies.

The importance of Monmouth as a market town goes back hundreds of years and the marketing of livestock is mentioned in various charters granted by monarchs, including Edward V1 in 1549.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, the market was held in Monnow Street, the town's main street, and after complaints about the state of the street following the sale of animals, a new market was opened in 1876 at a cost of £3,300.

In the 1930s, the September sheep sales were big affairs with entries of mainly Suffolk crosses topping well over 5,000. And up to the 1990s entries of 4,000-plus were quite normal.

Cattle, sheep and pigs were mostly bought by local butchers who used to drive their stock through the town to the slaughter house in Priory Street which closed during the 1960s.

Then there were no concerns about traceability because each butcher knew the very farm and farmer from which he had purchased his stock.

John Jenkins, a partner with Newland Rennie Wilkins, said the closure would be a great loss.

"However," said Mr Jenkins, "we must look forward and continue to press for the construction of a new county market."