The Dagenham site was acquired by the City in 2018 from Barking Power Ltd, and announced as a potential option for bringing Smithfield, Billingsgate and, initially, the Leyton-based New Spitalfields fruit and vegetable market, also owned by the City, together in the same place.
Smithfield market's owners, the City of London Corporation, had planned to relocate Smithfield and Canary Wharf's Billingsgate fish market to the east-end suburb, but on Tuesday the body's Court of Common Council voted to scrap the move, after a recommendation from the Square Mile's policy committee.
The City of London Corporation, the ultimate owner of the property, has been engaged in public consultation to assess how best to redevelop the disused property and regenerate the area.
Can the general public buy meat from the Smithfield market?
Can the public buy? Anyone can buy meat, poultry and provisions at Smithfield. It is open to the public by Charter: walk through the Market, look around, talk to the salesmen on the front of the stalls.
Increasing traffic restrictions, congestion and other practical considerations such as constrained sites, and in the case of Smithfield a Grade II* listed site, mean Traders are unable to grow and prosper by staying in their present locations.
London's 900-year-old Smithfield meat market to close as Dagenham move abandoned
Is the Smithfield market still trading?
The announcement by the City of London Corporation in November that Smithfield market is to close after almost 900 years of trading has been met with surprise and dismay. Many Londoners fear Smithfield's special sense of place will be lost for good as a result.
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.
Smithfield was almost a city within a city – and one with its own hours. To give customers time to buy and prepare their meat for sale the same day, the market opened at night.
If the plans proceed, the Smithfield site will become home to the new London Museum, while the land at Canary Wharf that will be unlocked by relocating Billingsgate could provide around 2,000 new homes, it said.
The City Guides run walking tours of Smithfield for members of the public on a monthly basis. Hear how Smithfield meat market has changed throughout its 800 year history and experience its working life first-hand on this special tour.
The freehold owner of the site is the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, but the City of London Corporation still runs the market; they pay an annual ground rent stipulated in an agreement between the two councils as "the gift of one fish".
As the largest wholesale meat market in the UK and one of the largest in Europe, Smithfield Market is a cornerstone of London's culinary scene and a must-visit destination for food enthusiasts.
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.
In 2013, Smithfield was taken private and became a wholly owned subsidiary of Hong Kong-based WH Group, which is publicly traded on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited.
In 1852, Parliament passed the Smithfield Market Removal Act to abolish the Smithfield Market, London's historic live cattle market. The removal of the market from the city center was a metaphor for the rupture of modern British society with the old order of pre-industrial Britain.
WH Group is the largest pork company in the world, with leading positions in China, the US, and key markets in Europe. The group owns subsidiary companies such as Henan Shuanghui Investment & Development Co Ltd., Asia's largest meat processing company, and Smithfield Foods Inc., the biggest pork food company in the US.
The Town of Smithfield was named after John Smith, “The Miller,” who was granted land by Roger Williams. Smith was one of the original party of six men headed by Roger Williams that formed the first settlement in Rhode Island.
The City of London Corporation, which runs the site, said on Tuesday its council voted to stop operating Smithfield and Billingsgate fish market. The original plan had been to relocate the markets to a £1bn development in Dagenham, but a sharp rise in construction costs and wider inflation forced a rethink.
The corporation decided in a separate vote last November to permanently close Smithfield and Billingsgate when it pulled the plug on a planned £740m relocation to a new site in the east of the capital at Dagenham, blaming rising costs.
The decision to go public is expected to solidify Smithfield's position as a major player in the global food industry, while WH Group's divestment allows for streamlined operations and targeted growth initiatives for both entities.
You'll find award-winning traders, famous street eats, and hidden gems tucked within its maze of stalls and passageways. Whether you're craving gourmet cheese, sizzling street food, or handcrafted pastries, Borough Market offers a feast for the senses. Its bustling atmosphere, always full of locals and travelers alike.
What are some interesting facts about Smithfield market?
Dating back to a 1327 charter issued by Edward II, Smithfield is the oldest meat market in London, its proximity to the River Fleet and to grazing sources making it a handy place to bring livestock to trade.
Entry to the Christmas Market is free of charge while for certain attractions such as the Ice Rink and Ice Museum, advance purchase of tickets is recommended via the website. Tickets for the Big Wheel are available on site. Find out more at www.christmasspectacular.ie.
