Cambridge Independent Press 21 Dec 1888: Parsons Christmas sheep for sale

From an early hour on Wednesday evening the principal streets in Cambridge were crowded with people anxious to view the annual show provided by the tradesmen in the town. The shops were tastefully decorated and brilliantly illuminated. The weather was exceptionally mild for the time of year – too mild, indeed, for the butchers, who, for the preservation of their meat, would much rather have preferred more seasonable weather. Numerous itinerant traders hawked their wares in the streets, and met with a fair amount of success. The show of dead meat was quite up in the average, the fine specimens on view eliciting a considerable amount of praise. It would be impossible in this brief notice to refer to the displays made by all the tradesmen – consequently, we select those who advertise in the columns of the Independent Press.

Mr George Clark, Petty-cury, exhibited some fine specimens from the Agricultural Hall Christmas Show, including many prize-winners – one of which was a grand cross heifer, bred and fed by Mr. J. Wortley, and which was awarded the champion prize at the London Show, and weighed 96st 13lb. He had also on view 50 Hampshire Down sheep, fed by Mr. F. Parsons, of Trumpington. ……………..