All Roads Lead to Smithfield – Drovers & Cattle Dealers
by Ian Waller, a well known speaker and author.

Drovers were respected people in their rural communities. They required a Drovers’ Licence or would be classed as itinerant workers/vagrants. They had to be married, 30 years of age or older and own the property in the county in which they applied for the licence. They could not have a criminal record leading to imprisonment (fines for petty crimes did not count).

Initially the drovers travelled hundreds of miles on foot, but eventually went on horseback, with the average drove lasting 4-6 weeks. Drovers Ways criss-crossed the countryside and because of the specific routes, there were fairs and markets on the way where drovers often sold stock at the better provincial markets to get a good price. In the summer months the drover could work for up to 14 hours but less hours in winter. The distances travelled were determined by the inns they stayed at, with innkeepers sometimes organising the night watchmen. Besides cattle, the drover would take sheep, turkeys, and geese – pigs were very common in the London area. All routes finished in London in the various markets – not just Smithfield, which sold mainly deadstock meat, not livestock.

Drovers are not easy to locate on census returns but, when found, give a wealth of information, e.g. birthplace, working colleagues, where they were staying, who might be travelling alongside them etc. Members of the public often travelled alongside the drovers as it was deemed a safe way to travel across the country. Another advantage to travellers was that drovers avoided tollgates.

Overall, drovers were upstanding and trusted members of society who were astute businessmen, good at their jobs. Farmers from around the country entrusted their prized cattle to the drovers, to get the best possible prices on their behalf which was a huge responsibility for them to undertake.

Don’t miss this interesting talk – Grantham was on a Drovers route!!