THERE was plenty of nostalgia as a livestock market was held in Taunton for the last time, the County Gazette reported back in January 2008.

The closure of Taunton Market brought to an end more than 1,000 years of markets in the county town.

Taunton Market partner Robert Venner said: “There was a bit of sadness about leaving Taunton, but people know it had to come to an end.

“They appreciate that the site is being taken back for other uses and they are looking forward to Sedgemoor.”

Mr Venner said Saturday’s market was quite busy for January, with 4,253 head of stock and plenty of people.

The then district council, Taunton Deane Borough Council, had plans for the seven hectare Firepool site, which it owned, to be redeveloped with shops, homes and offices. Now, 16 years later, the site is virtually undeveloped.

The retail market was set to continue for a period on the same site, off Priory Bridge Road, while organisers searched for a new base.

Sedgemoor’s new one-stop agricultural centre at North Petherton was trading on Monday, two days after the Taunton site closed, and the farming community was looking forward to its first Saturday of business the following weekend.