Smithfield Market

From market floors to museum halls

Intact Insurance facts
1. Balancing innovation, safety and heritage
  Once a new home has been identified by City of London Corporation this still operational meat market has plans to be developed into a cultural, leisure and retail offering complementing the new London Museum which is located in the adjacent Poultry Market and the old General Market.
  Throughout this project, we will provide specialist advice on the use of modern construction materials, ensuring that innovative design can be incorporated without compromising fire safety or the overall quality of the development. This is a prime example of how we work closely with customers to meet today’s environmental and safety challenges.
  Our involvement also highlights the scale and complexity of our capabilities. The redevelopment sits above the Crossrail tunnels and beneath critical infrastructure including the Circle, Metropolitan, and Hammersmith & City lines. Managing construction around these active transport routes, alongside ongoing maintenance works, demands rigorous risk management and specialist technical knowledge - expertise we are able to provide thanks to our deep experience in the rail sector.
  Projects like Smithfield demonstrate how we use our knowledge, experience, and resources to help customers achieve challenging developments, with safety and sustainability at the forefront.
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Interesting facts
1. Historic origins
  Smithfield Meat Market dates back to the 10th century, originally serving as a space for markets, fairs and public executions. It had become London’s primary meat market by the 16th century. The current market, designed by Sir Horace Jones and opened in 1868, is a notable example of Victorian industrial architecture. The market has been central to London's food supply, especially during times of crisis.
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2. The 1958 fire
  In January 1958, one of London’s worst fires since the Blitz broke out at the Poultry Market - burning for three days, claiming two firefighter lives and injuring around 50 others. The incident led to significant advances in fire safety practices, such as breathing apparatus for fire fighters.
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3. Redevelopment and the future
  Smithfield is undergoing a major transformation, being redeveloped to host the London Museum. The project blends historic architecture with modern design to create a world-class cultural destination, while preserving the integrity of the original buildings.
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Monument

St Pancras Station

Sustaining the capital
At its peak, the market handled approximately 500,000 tonnes of meat annually
Build date
Operated for nearly 1,000 years – dating back to 10th century
Underground view
You will be able to see London Underground trains passing beneath the Poultry Market, via a viewing window in the basement when the London Museum opens

Smithfield Market

From market floors to museum halls

Intact Insurance facts

Balancing innovation, safety and heritage

Interesting facts

Historic origins

The 1958 fire

Redevelopment and the future