The City of London Corporationʼs closed-door meeting on tuesday made a game-changing choice: Smithfield Market wont move to Dagenham but will completely shut down (ending almost thousand years of meat-trading history)
The markets story connects deeply with Rev Marcus Walker and St Bartholomew church - its roots go back to mid-10th century when butchers first gathered in this spot. Back in those far-off days the area was quite gross: muddy water and filth were everywhere. The churchs founder a ex-court jester named Rahere had local kids clean it up - something that wouldnt fly with todays rules
The streets still show their meat-trading past with names like:
- Cow Cross Street
- Poultry Avenue
- Cock Lane
The market got better in late 1800s - they built cool-rooms and underground rails which helped lots. A fun fact: when New Zealand sent its first frozen lamb about 140 years ago it went straight to Smithfield then to Queen Victoriaʼs dinner table
Today its still a real food temple open from midnight till 5am where anyone can buy top-quality meat at wholesale prices; but the City wants traders out in 3 years. The yearly breakfast shows the split between old and new: market folks and banking types clash over brexit - when Lord Mayor talks down leaving EU traders stay quiet; when market boss praises Commonwealth deals finance people get grumpy
The City plans to make another modern campus here - trading raw meat for sleek offices. But London doesnt need more glass buildings: it needs to keep its working-class roots and real character that helped make it great in first place