Who We Are - all about Ledbury Country Market
The name 'Country Markets' has only been around since about 2004 however the Markets are inextricably linked with the foundation of the Women's Institute (WI) in 1915. The WI was sponsored and supported by the Agricultural Organisation Society which was interested in promoting co-operative selling amongst farmers and encouraging the distribution of essential foods during the war years. The WI also became the sponsoring body of Country Markets until 1995 when it separated and the markets became sponsored by a new independent organisation, W I Country Markets with the name being changed to Country Markets Ltd in 2004.
Ledbury's first WI Market was founded in 1944. In the sales book from August 4th of that year most of the produce appears to have been rabbits that had been snared locally. Because of rationing there were no ingredients for cakes, pies and preserves, as there are today.
Over the years the Market has had many homes, but is now firmly established in the Burgage Hall which is accessed from the courtyard of the Butcher Row museum in Church Lane or the alleyway next to the newsagents on the High Street. Everything is grown, stitched or cooked within a 15 mile radius of the town.
Why not come and see us and experience the warm welcome you will receive.
We offer sweet and savoury baking including cakes, biscuits, bread, pies, pasties, flans, charcuterie and ready meals. We have an incredibly wide selection of chutneys, jams, marmalades, honey and free range eggs to choose from. Everything that we have on offer is produced by local people with a love for cooking and producing great quality food.
The craft department is home to a variety of locally produced items including cards, decorative objects as well as more functional and practical everyday items all produced by hand with loving care. We also have occasional guest producers selling own reared sheeps wool products, home thrown pottery and beeswax candles complete with wood turned holders.
We sell an assortment of our own grown fruit and vegetables, herbs, cut flowers and plants. We also offer a wide selection of top quality hardy perennials, annuals and shrubs, all sold complete with advice on the plants requirements. In spring the market is busy with customers buying our large selection of vegetable seedlings so they can grow their own.