Metropolitan Cattle Market

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Coordinates: 51°32′46″N 0°07′25″W / 51.54618°N 0.12374°W / 51.54618; -0.12374
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Diagram of Metropolitan Cattle Market, Islington
The newly opened market in a contemporary etching
Inside the Metropolitan Meat Market

The Metropolitan Cattle Market (later Caledonian Market), just off the

Smithfield
and was established to remove the difficulty of managing live cattle at that latter site.

History

The market was designed by the corporation's architect, James Bunstone Bunning. He had previously drawn up plans to rebuild the cattle market at Smithfield, before the Corporation decided to remove the trade in live animals to a site outside the City itself.[1]

The market originally covered 30 acres (0.12 km2) of the site and grounds of

Caledonian Road
(east), Brandon Road and Blundell Street (south) and York Way (west) and its construction cost the Corporation £300,000. Market Road, North Road, Shearling Way and Brewery Road were internal roads within the market area.

The site was chosen for its proximity to the

Holloway cattle dock and Junction Road railway station
. On market days in excess of 15,000 animals could be traded.

The central market area was arranged in a rectangle with stalls and pens for

Caledonian Park
.

Dealers' offices were arranged in the central area and

slaughter houses
were close by. The market was enclosed by cast iron railings, the columns of which were topped with cast iron heads of the animals traded. The railings remain but the heads were removed many years ago.

At each of the corners of the main area, large market

pubs provided accommodation and entertainment for those visiting the market. The pubs were named The Lion, The Lamb, The White Horse and The Black Bull. Today, three of the four remain and, with the clock tower, are listed structures
. A fifth pub, The Butchers Arms, built to a similar design, was located at the south-west corner of the market site at the junction of York Way and Brewery Road. The building remains.

In the early 20th century, as the trade in live animals diminished, a

Second World War transferred south of the Thames to become the New Caledonian or Bermondsey Market
. The markets in the area of the old Metropolitan Cattle Market finally closed in 1963.

Redevelopment

Present day park and Clock Tower

The northern part of the main market site was redeveloped by the

Caledonian Park
.

At the break-up of the GLC,

registered social landlord, Southern Housing, in 2005. The estate was regenerated, with the original blocks being demolished and replaced with a new layout of streets.[2] The project was completed in 2012 by architects HTA and contractors, Higgins Construction.[3]

Panorama view from Clock Tower

See also

References

  1. ^ "J.B. Bunning, Esq., F.S.A." The Gentleman's Magazine. 1863. pp. 798–802.
  2. ^ a b c Spring, Martin (14 September 2007). "The Writing's on the Wall". Building. Vol. 2007, no. 37. London: CMP Information Limited. pp. 42–47. Retrieved 3 January 2008.
  3. ^ "Market Estate". Retrieved 23 January 2022.

External links

51°32′46″N 0°07′25″W / 51.54618°N 0.12374°W / 51.54618; -0.12374

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