Smithfield Market in London was designed by the City Architect and Surveyor Sir Horace Jones. Commissioned in 1866 and opened in November 1868, the Victorian market complex—including the Central Meat Market and subsequent additions like the General Market—featured his signature ornate, functional style, also known for designing Tower Bridge.
Sir Horace Jones designed the buildings and layout of the market. His name may be unfamiliar to some however, he is the same architect who designed one of London's most iconic sights – Tower Bridge. Remarkably, before the Victorian market buildings were constructed most of the site had remained as open land.
The buildings, designed by City Architect Sir Horace Jones, were commissioned in 1866 and completed in November 1868 at a cost of £993,816. The Metropolitan Meat and Poultry Act also authorised the development of the Poultry Market which opened in 1875.
What is the history of the Smithfield Market in London?
Smithfield became London's livestock market in the medieval period. Animals reared as far away as the Midlands were brought here for sale. In 1174, William Fitzstephen described it as “A smooth field where every Friday there is a celebrated rendezvous of fine horses to be sold…
What are some interesting facts about the Smithfield Market?
A grim history of execution and revolution
It was also the site of martyrdom during the Reformation; people were tortured and killed here on many occasions. Most of those executed at Smithfield were religious dissenters, particularly during the peak of the Reformation and Counter Reformation in the 16th century.
Smithfield Market started out in 1844 as stalls, then in 1853 an iron and glass roof was built
Why is the Smithfield Market closing down?
In a surprising turn of events, the world-famous meat and fish markets might not actually be closing down for good. Phew. The City of London Corporation voted to withdraw its support for the 850-year-old markets in November 2024, meaning they would have to shut forever by 2028.
Yes, absolutely! Anyone can shop at London's historic Smithfield Market (and Manchester's New Smithfield Market), not just trade buyers like restaurants and butchers, but the general public can buy meat, poultry, fish, and produce, often at better prices, though you'll usually need to buy in bulk and be prepared for an early start.
When the plan was made public, in April 2019, excitement was expressed about the City of London Corporation, owner of the Smithfield meat market in Farringdon, Billingsgate fish market in Poplar and the New Spitalfields horticultural produce hub in Leyton, consolidating all three in one place.
Haymarket, Pall Mall, a pretty long and spacious street, in which there is the opera house on one side, and a small theatre on the other. It received its name from there being a market here for hay and straw, every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
Sir Christopher Wren (1632 to 1723) was a brilliant polymath: an astronomer, mathematician, anatomist, inventor, founder member and President of the Royal Society, and King Charles II's Surveyor-General of the King's Works. He was considered by many to be the greatest architect of his time.
The New York Five was a group of architects based in New York City whose work was featured in the 1972 book Five Architects. The architects, Peter Eisenman, Michael Graves, Charles Gwathmey, John Hejduk, and Richard Meier, are also often referred to as "the Whites".
On one of these trips to London, at the age of ninety, he caught a cold and on 25 February 1723 a servant who tried to awaken Wren from his nap found that he had died in his sleep. Wren was laid to rest on 5 March 1723. His body was placed in the southeast corner of the crypt of St Paul's.
A Visit To London's Oldest Shop: Lock And Co Hatters. I recently paid a visit to one of London's most iconic shops: Lock and Co Hatters in St James's. It is considered to be the oldest shop in London, but also is said to be the oldest hat shop in the world and is, amazingly, still run by the same family today.
In the week that the City of London voted to close Smithfield Market for good after more than 800 years of trading, I publish the work of photographer Orlando Gili who has been down at the market, documenting the last generation of butchers to work at this ancient site.
1936. Smithfield Packing Company was founded by Joe Luter Sr. and Joe Luter Jr. on Commerce Street in Smithfield. Years later, statues honoring the founding family, including Joe Luter III, were erected on our Smithfield Foods campus.
Brick Lane was in existence by the 1500s as a field path in open countryside outside the City of London, east of the boundary of the medieval Augustinian Priory of St Mary Spital, which gave Spitalfields its name. Originally the street took its name from the brick kilns first brought here by early Flemish settlers.
Where did the smell come from? In the 1850s, waste of all types ended up in the River Thames. There was human poo and wee, dead animals, thrown-away food, industrial waste from riverside factories, and the bodies of anyone who drowned. In the streets, manure piled up from the horse-drawn carriages.
The Goat is a symbol for the waves of immigrants who found sanctuary in Spitalfields. Spitalfields derived its name from the hospital and priory, St Mary's Spittel, founded in 1197. Explore this charming museum here.
While many are concerned for traders and the loss of the market's unique sights, sounds and smells, the corporation's decision – blamed on rising costs – is just the latest step in the decades' long transformation of the wider Smithfield area.
Yes, absolutely! Anyone can shop at London's historic Smithfield Market (and Manchester's New Smithfield Market), not just trade buyers like restaurants and butchers, but the general public can buy meat, poultry, fish, and produce, often at better prices, though you'll usually need to buy in bulk and be prepared for an early start.
In the UK, goat meat is usually just called goat meat, though it can be called chevon (from adult goats) or kid (from young goats) for more specific culinary terms, but unlike in South Asia where "mutton" often means goat, in the UK mutton specifically refers to meat from older sheep.
Kobe Beef is a specific variety of Wagyu from the Hyogo Prefecture of Japan, considered one of the most expensive and luxurious cuts available. Kobe beef, in particular, has a reputation for being one of the most exclusive and expensive steaks in the world, sometimes costing hundreds of dollars per pound.
Smithfield Foods, Inc., is a Chinese-owned pork producer and food-processing company based in Smithfield, Virginia. Founded in 1936 as the Smithfield Packing Company by Joseph W. Luter and his son, the company is the largest pig and pork producer in the world.
