Smithfield Market is a historic market in central London. It is London’s main distributing center for meat, but other products are also sold there. The market covers an area of about 10 acres (4 hectares). It lies in the City, the oldest part of London.
Goods have been traded at Smithfield Market since the 1100’s. For many years, public executions were also held there, and Smithfield was the place where the Scottish patriot Sir William Wallace was executed in 1305. In 1381, Wat Tyler, leader of the Peasants’ Revolt, brought his demands to King Richard II at Smithfield. In 1868, the market moved into new buildings designed by the British architect Sir Horace Jones.
