Day 64 - Smithfield Market

 London calling to the faraway towns....

Today I was visiting City, University of London for a presentation by the Association of Commonwealth Universities and Angela took the opportunity to visit one of her client's office in the Bank area. Afterwards, we chose to walk around that part of the City of London and came upon Smithfield Market. The Market has an interesting history. It was the sight of a meat market in the 10th century and continues to operate as one. It is the only market in London that has a continuous history since the medieval times. London's oldest church, St. Bartholomew's, was founded in that same area around 1123 A.D.

Over the centuries, the market became known for its use as a public viewing area for executions. William Wallace, the famous Scottish warrior who took on the British (see the movie Braveheart) was executed and splayed open at this spot. The market was also the place where husbands would bring their wives and try and sell them off! It is because of this activity that reference to a social location where men are checking out women is said to be "like a meat market."

The Smithfield Market you see today was designed by the Victorian architect Sir Horace Jones and completed in 1868.  A railway was even built to allow for an underground entrance into the market. Over time,the market had specific sections for the cattle market, the poultry market and the fish market. During the Second World War, Smithfields was used for experiments that were to take place in cold temperatures. A tthe end of the war the market was hit by one of the last V2 bombs launched. This caused significant damage to the railroad line and the market.

There are plans to re-develop the market to include restaurants, and the nearby Museum of London is going to move into some of the space adjacent to the actual market. If you want to see it action, it is open from 2:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Tours can be taken, but you have to get there around 6 a.m. No thanks! I am usually at the sleep market at that time!

Ale of the Day: Bath Best Bitter, Abbey Brewery, Bath, Somerset