“It flies in the face of the ointment with other ways of life”.
Rural village life has changed over the years, churches close, post offices, shops and other local facilities fall by the wayside or under threat.
Quaint cottages are now holiday lets and the old family names for so long synonymous with a place pass us by.
However, in Ruswarp, one thing has remained steadfast and is thriving in a world where even traditional farming and agriculture is becoming increasingly modern.
On a Monday and a Wednesday, a collective of farmers – old, wise, having seen it all over the years as well as young, full of energy and new ideas – turn up at Ruswarp’s livestock auction mart, the likes of which are disappearing faster than farming ministers.
Sheep, lambs and suckler cattle usually make up the sales and, while undoubtedly it is less busy than years ago, Ruswarp Mart, remains a place of agricultural business and commerce.
Local farmers bring their own livestock, sell to another local farmer, and go home with the profits in their back pockets. They are cutting out the middle man and doing business in their own back yard.
Robert Smith, is the auctioneer and a partner at Richardson & Smith, a traditional land agent specialising in farming.
He said: “We are very proud of the community aspect we have here. It flies in the face of the ointment with other ways of life.
“The farming community is very strong and we see it enormously here, particularly with the young farmers.
“Farming is an ageing thing, as we all know, but the young farmers as an organisation in this district are strong. You see all this come together, it is communal creative, ingenious fellowship and support. It is brilliant, I love it.”
When we visit, there are easily more than a hundred people huddled around the rings, despite the 25 degrees plus temperatures outside, for the sale of sheep and store cattle. Bidding is fast and furious.
It isn’t a flurry of hands and a waving of papers. Livestock is bought and sold with an ever so slight nod, meaning Robert has to have an eye over the entire ring while working at speed.
There can be £4,000 worth of money made with one lot.
A typical sale like this one can turnover between £350,000 and £750,000.
Richardson & Smith was founded in 1837 by Charles Smith. The auction mart was introduced in the 1930s.
With BATA, an animal feed and agricultural supplies store, next door and building merchant Wilf Nobles across the road along with its fuel station and shop, there is a collective of family businesses serving the sector.
Aside from the practicalities of filling up their trucks and Land Rovers with diesel, loading trailers with feed, livestock medication, troughs, gates, tools, maybe even a pair of wellies before heading back to their farms – anywhere from Robin Hood’s Bay to Roxby – these places serve another purpose.
Farming has always been a tough business
In recent years, it seems like it has been harder than ever. Drought one year, flooding the next, drought again. Inheritance tax uncertainty, blue-tongue, avian flu, rising fuel and feed prices and a political revolving door of farming ministers and now Prime Ministers.
Farming is one of the most dangerous occupations – both physically and mentally.
According to The Farm Safety Foundation, last year 23 farm workers lost their lives due to accidents in the workplace; in 2024 there were 47 suicides registered amongst people working in agricultural and related trades; and 95 per cent of farmers under 40 believe mental health is the biggest hidden problem facing farmers today.
Places like Ruswarp Mart – even Whitby’s dairy farming and grassland discussion group which meets every month during Autumn and Winter – are subtly helping to combat these issues.
Whether that is having a moan about the weather in the tea-stall, having a chat over the cattle ring about how to fix a problem, the Mart brings together farmers (mainly men) who wouldn’t normally admit to needing a little support and are even less likely to go and look for it.
Mart staff can signpost to other agencies and services and there are contact details for support networks dotted around.
Robert says: “Yes it is a place of business, merchants and commerce but it is also very sociable. It is a place where, if anybody feels they need it, there are people here to give that support. Farming is isolated and that is a reality.”
It is another reason marts such as Ruswarp still have a place, despite there being fewer.
Farming is always changing but Ruswarp enjoys a unique geographical location which in recent years, despite being just a couple of miles from the North Sea, has been a benefit.
The Mart has also worked hard to forge a reputation with sheep and cattle more commonly farmed in this particular area.
“The way farming has changed has meant that there are fewer livestock markets”, said Robert.
“For us, our geographical position has been a millstone sometimes, as we have heather on one side and sea on the other. But more recently, it has been a salvation.
“The way we have countered that as a market, is that our strength is in the North York Moors National Park. We are very strong on sheep and suckler cattle. We have built a strong reputation on the store element.
“We have worked really hard at bringing the livestock in, we have a good buying fraternity from those who sell to big customers like Waitrose or beef schemes for example.
“We have worked hard at it and developed a name and a market for it.”
