10 Facts About Smithfield Market

1.

Smithfield Market, properly known as West Smithfield Market, is a district located in Central London, part of Farringdon Without, the most westerly ward of the City of London, England.

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2.

Smithfield Market is home to a number of City institutions, such as St Bartholomew's Hospital and livery halls, including those of the Butchers' and Haberdashers' Companies.

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3.

The King Henry VIII Gate, which opens onto West Smithfield Market, was completed in 1702 and remains the hospital's main entrance.

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4.

Smithfield Market area emerged largely unscathed by the Great Fire of London in 1666, which was abated near the Fortune of War Tavern, at the junction of Giltspur Street and Cock Lane, where the statue of the Golden Boy of Pye Corner is located.

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5.

Until 2002 Smithfield Market hosted the midnight start of the annual Miglia Quadrato Car Rally, but with the increased night club activity around Smithfield Market, the UHULMC decided to move the event's start to Finsbury Circus.

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6.

Since 2007, Smithfield Market has been the chosen site of an annual event dedicated to road bicycle racing known as the Smithfield Market Nocturne.

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7.

The construction of extensive railway sidings, beneath Smithfield Park, facilitated the transfer of animal carcasses to its cold store, and directly up to the meat market via lifts.

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8.

In early 2019, it was proposed in plans put forward by the Court of Common Council, the City of London Corporation's main decision-making body, that Billingsgate Fish Market, New Spitalfields Market, and Smithfield Market would move to a new consolidated site in Barking Reach.

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9.

The public inquiry for the demolition and redevelopment of the General Smithfield Market Building took place between 6 November 2007 and 25 January 2008.

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10.

Some buildings on Lindsey Street opposite the East Smithfield Market were demolished in 2010 to allow the construction of the new Elizabeth line station at Farringdon.

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