In a stunning announcement that has left London’s meat trade reeling, the City of London Corporation has declared that the iconic Smithfield Market, along with Billingsgate fish market, will close their doors for good by 2028. The decision comes as a shock to the market’s traders, many of whom have worked there for generations and see it not just as a place of business, but a way of life.
A Market Steeped in History
Established in 1133, Smithfield Market has been a central part of London life for centuries. Originally known as “Smeeth-field,” an Old English term meaning “smooth field,” it served as an open area for livestock trading, public executions, and even the notorious practice of wife-selling in the early 19th century. The current market buildings on Charterhouse Street were established in 1860, with renovations in the 1990s to meet modern hygiene standards.
The Heart and Soul of Smithfield
For the market’s traders, the closure announcement came as a gut punch. “My dad was a butcher here in the 1960s. I was here as a little baby,” shares Pat, a trader uncertain of his future. “Many of the people here are local. They’ve only known market life. It’s the end of the work life I know.” The vibrant, tight-knit community, forged over years of working side by side, now faces being scattered to the winds.
“It’s just dragged on for too long. And now they’re saying it’s too expensive to move.”
– Pat, Smithfield Market trader
A Changing Landscape
The market has weathered many changes over the years, from the Victorian-era concerns over hygiene to the impact of London’s congestion charge. Norman, an 80-year-old trader who has worked at Smithfield for 64 years, remembers the shift from an open market to stalls operating behind plastic screens. “It’s very different now,” he muses. “People have to come earlier to avoid the congestion charge. Parking is difficult. It’s not the same.”
The Ripple Effect
The closure’s impact will be felt beyond the market’s walls. Nearby businesses, like the historic Fox & Anchor pub that has served generations of butchers and porters, are grappling with the news. “It’s so sad,” laments deputy manager Veronica Czarzisca. “We need to give those guys a hug when they next come in. I feel really emotional, now.”
“A sad day for me and other supporters of the markets with hundreds of years of service extinguished. I still believe in the positive impact that markets provide to our communities but respect my colleagues’ decision.”
– Henry Pollard, chair of the City of London Corporation’s markets board
An Uncertain Future
As traders absorb the shock of the closure announcement, they are left with more questions than answers. Many had expected to relocate en masse to a planned £1bn redevelopment in Dagenham Docks, but those plans have been scrapped. The corporation has pledged to pay compensation and help traders find new locations, but the future remains murky.
“It’s the end of an era and a way of life,” reflects Jackie, a 40-year veteran of the market. For her and many others, the closure will mean not just the loss of a job, but the unraveling of a community and a centuries-old tradition. As Smithfield Market prepares to turn the page on its long and storied history, its traders are left to ponder what comes next in a city that is ever-changing, even as it clings to its past.
