Random jottings - Old London - markets

One of my ongoing projects at the moment is reading Daniel Defoe's Tour of London while cross-referencing it on the net.

I am reading a photographed copy of the original book which is fun but heavy weather. here is a link to an easier to read version
click here
At present I am in the process of looking up his list of flesh markets - that is meat markets to you and me not brothels by the way.

Here is Smithfield Market, described by Defoe as "without question the greatest market in the world for flesh and livestock."

Meat has been traded at Smithfield Market for over 800 years. By the middle of the 19th century however, in the course of a single year 220,000 head of cattle and 1,500,000 sheep would be "violently forced into an area of five acres, in the very heart of London.

An Act of Parliament was passed in 1852, a new cattle-market was to be constructed in Copenhagen Fields, Islington. The new Metropolitan Cattle Market opened in 1855. The new Smithfields Meat and poultry market was completed in November 1868 at a cost of £993,816 (£66 million today). 

It might take me a little while to research some of the many London markets. This is as far as I have got so far.

Newgate Market:

The site is now Paternoster Square.


Spitalfields Market:

There has been a market on this site since 1638 when Charles I gave a licence for flesh, fowl and roots to be sold on Spittle Fields - which was then a rural area.

After the rights to a market had seemingly lapsed during the time of the Commonwealth, Spitalifields Market was refounded in 1682 by Charles II.

Whitechapel Market:



Leadenhall Market:

Leadenhall Market dates back to the 14th century, 600 years ago when a former Lord Mayor of London(Richard ‘Dick’ Whittington) gifted Leadenhall to the City in 1411.

The Poultry Market remained until the 20th century, by which time all shop units were let for the sale of meat, fish or provisions. By the mid 20th century the shops were also being used for general retailing and leisure and by the end of the century Leadenhall Market was a shopping centre.
 

Fleet Market:

The Fleet Market was a market erected in 1736 on the newly culverted River Fleet. The market was located approximately where the modern Farringdon Street stands today, to the west of the Smithfield livestock market.

By 1829, the market was dilapidated and considered an obstacle to the increasing volume of traffic; and was cleared for the construction of Farringdon Road. Farringdon Market was constructed to replace it, but was never successful.

If anyone knows of, or has photos of the following meat and livestock markets I would be very interested:-

Honey Lane Market
Clare Market
Westminster Market
The Brook Field Market near Mayfair
St James's Market
and
Carnaby Market

Lots more markets to come. 

keep posted

ttfn