A large regional firm which is part of the Fine & Country network has gone into administration after its farm auction sales business hit difficulties.
Wright Marshall operated the livestock market at Beeston Castle in Cheshire.
Three successive sales were cancelled this month, and farmers have apparently complained that cheques paid to them by the company have bounced.
Wright Marshall appointed administrators on Wednesday, with 37 market staff made redundant and the market closed.
Anthony Collier, joint administrator, said: “Wright Marshall is a well-established business in Cheshire and Derbyshire, providing a range of services for the local community.
“The challenges facing the agricultural sector are well documented, and the downturn in livestock volumes being sold through the auction mart have resulted in this business making unsustainable losses.”
The firm, which dates back to 1843, also has property services, including sales and lettings plus a fine arts auctioneering business.
The administrators, at FRP Advisory LLP, will continue to trade these parts of the business while looking for potential buyers.
The company trades across eight sites in Cheshire and Derbyshire.
Comments (1)
Such a shame to see the decline of this once great company. I knew them mostly in their previous incarnation of Frank Marshall Estate Agents before their merger with another firm.
At that time they were a strong firm, admired by other agents for their professionalism and diversity of services offered, including sales, Lettings and auctions etc as well as the livestock auctions mentioned here.
There were, and still are, some great people in the business. So so very sad.