Old Spitalfields market
Encyclopedia
Old Spitalfields Market is a covered market in Spitalfields
, just outside the City of London
. It is in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets
.
There has been a market on the site since 1638 when Charles I of England
gave a licence for flesh, fowl and roots to be sold on Spittle Fields - which was then a rural area on the eastern outskirts of London. After the rights to a market had seemingly lapsed during the time of the Commonwealth
, the market was refounded in 1682 by Charles II
in order to feed the burgeoning population of a new suburb of London. Market buildings were sited on the rectangular patch of open ground which retained the name Spittle Fields: demarcated by Crispin Street to the west, Lamb Street to the north, Red Lion Street (later subsumed into Commercial Street
) to the east and Paternoster Row (later known as Brushfield Street) to the south. The existing buildings were built in 1887 to service a wholesale market, owned by the City of London Corporation. Spitalfields Market was extended westward to Steward Street in 1926, destroying the northern extensions of Crispin Street and Gun Street in the process.
The original wholesale fruit and vegetable market moved to New Spitalfields Market
in 1991.
Being at the centre of a revival in the area, the eastern end of Spitalfields retained its old charm in the Horner Square and Horner Buildings, which are Grade II listed buildings. These market buildings were designed by George Sherrin for the last private owner of the fruit and vegetable market, Robert Horner and built between 1885 and 1893. The original Victorian market buildings and the Market Hall and roof have been restored and Old Spitalfields Market is now one of London's top markets. The market square of Old Spitalfields Market is a popular fashion, food, vintage and general market, open seven days a week, but is particularly lively on Sundays.
In the late 20th century, there was a dispute between the owners, the City of London Corporation and Spitalfields residents about the redevelopment of the 1926 market extension at the western end. The corporation won, and now a Norman Foster designed office block surrounds the western end of the site, after two thirds of the historic market were rebuilt to include restaurants, shops and a large award winning indoor arts and crafts market, called the Traders Market.
The Gun (a public house
situated to the south of the market buildings) recalls Tudor times, when the Old Artillery Ground
in this area was used by the Honourable Artillery Company
to practice with cross-bow, and later guns and artillery pieces.
At the east end, and on the other side of Commercial Street is Christ Church, Spitalfields, a large Nicholas Hawksmoor
church.
In January 2011 Old Spitalfields Market received the award "Best Private Market" by NABMA, the National Association of British Market Authorities.
Spitalfields
Spitalfields is a former parish in the borough of Tower Hamlets, in the East End of London, near to Liverpool Street station and Brick Lane. The area straddles Commercial Street and is home to many markets, including the historic Old Spitalfields Market, founded in the 17th century, Sunday...
, just outside the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
. It is in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets
London Borough of Tower Hamlets
The London Borough of Tower Hamlets is a London borough to the east of the City of London and north of the River Thames. It is in the eastern part of London and covers much of the traditional East End. It also includes much of the redeveloped Docklands region of London, including West India Docks...
.
There has been a market on the site since 1638 when Charles I of England
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
gave a licence for flesh, fowl and roots to be sold on Spittle Fields - which was then a rural area on the eastern outskirts of London. After the rights to a market had seemingly lapsed during the time of the Commonwealth
Commonwealth of England
The Commonwealth of England was the republic which ruled first England, and then Ireland and Scotland from 1649 to 1660. Between 1653–1659 it was known as the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland...
, the market was refounded in 1682 by Charles II
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
in order to feed the burgeoning population of a new suburb of London. Market buildings were sited on the rectangular patch of open ground which retained the name Spittle Fields: demarcated by Crispin Street to the west, Lamb Street to the north, Red Lion Street (later subsumed into Commercial Street
Commercial Street (London)
Commercial Street is a road in Tower Hamlets, east London that runs north to south from Shoreditch High Street to Whitechapel High Street through the East End district of Spitalfields...
) to the east and Paternoster Row (later known as Brushfield Street) to the south. The existing buildings were built in 1887 to service a wholesale market, owned by the City of London Corporation. Spitalfields Market was extended westward to Steward Street in 1926, destroying the northern extensions of Crispin Street and Gun Street in the process.
The original wholesale fruit and vegetable market moved to New Spitalfields Market
New Spitalfields Market
New Spitalfields Market is located in a site in Leyton, London Borough of Waltham Forest in east London which opened in 1991. It is Europe's leading horticultural market specialising in exotic fruit and vegetables....
in 1991.
Being at the centre of a revival in the area, the eastern end of Spitalfields retained its old charm in the Horner Square and Horner Buildings, which are Grade II listed buildings. These market buildings were designed by George Sherrin for the last private owner of the fruit and vegetable market, Robert Horner and built between 1885 and 1893. The original Victorian market buildings and the Market Hall and roof have been restored and Old Spitalfields Market is now one of London's top markets. The market square of Old Spitalfields Market is a popular fashion, food, vintage and general market, open seven days a week, but is particularly lively on Sundays.
In the late 20th century, there was a dispute between the owners, the City of London Corporation and Spitalfields residents about the redevelopment of the 1926 market extension at the western end. The corporation won, and now a Norman Foster designed office block surrounds the western end of the site, after two thirds of the historic market were rebuilt to include restaurants, shops and a large award winning indoor arts and crafts market, called the Traders Market.
The Gun (a public house
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
situated to the south of the market buildings) recalls Tudor times, when the Old Artillery Ground
Old Artillery Ground
The Old Artillery Ground is an area of land in Spitalfields, London formerly designated one of the Liberties of the Tower of London and Crown Land....
in this area was used by the Honourable Artillery Company
Honourable Artillery Company
The Honourable Artillery Company was incorporated by Royal Charter in 1537 by King Henry VIII. Today it is a Registered Charity whose purpose is to attend to the “better defence of the realm"...
to practice with cross-bow, and later guns and artillery pieces.
At the east end, and on the other side of Commercial Street is Christ Church, Spitalfields, a large Nicholas Hawksmoor
Nicholas Hawksmoor
Nicholas Hawksmoor was a British architect born in Nottinghamshire, probably in East Drayton.-Life:Hawksmoor was born in Nottinghamshire in 1661, into a yeoman farming family, almost certainly in East Drayton, Nottinghamshire. On his death he was to leave property at nearby Ragnall, Dunham and a...
church.
In January 2011 Old Spitalfields Market received the award "Best Private Market" by NABMA, the National Association of British Market Authorities.