The old Smithfield market, the current market, and the new market
Discussion about the future of Smithfield covers at least four perspectives:
Development of the derelict General Market and other buildings on the west of the site. The current plan is relocation of the Museum of London, and creation of a new Museum for London.
The move of the current active meat market to a new location in Dagenham, and the subsequent development of those buildings
The future of the wider Smithfield area as the Elizabeth Line(Crossrail) makes it the most accessible place in London - coupled with opportunities created by 1. and 2.
The City of London’s Culture Mile initiative, linking and promoting venues and activities along the stretch from Farringdon to Moorgate.
Developments 1. and 2. are scheduled over the next decade, and subject to some uncertainty. The Museum move(1) may depend on plans to redevelop its current site, where the original plan for a Centre for Museum have been dropped. Negotiations with traders(2) on the move to Dagenham have not been completed. Crossrail, although delayed, is due to arrive in 2022. The Culture Mile is in full swing - although many activities have taken place online during the pandemic.
Official sources of information and news coverage
Wholesale Markets - the City of London website for the Markets Co-location Programme provides information about 2.
Farringdon Smithfield Future blog - started in 2000 and“Here to open the minds of local residents, visitors and trade on the regeneration of the Farringdon Smithfield area and the wider Clerkenwell neighbourhood” has covered all perspectives.
The Culture Mile has a dedicated website with links to many venues and information on visiting.
The new museum will sit in atmospheric but currently dilapidated market buildings, at the heart of one of the capital’s most historic and creative quarters, Smithfield.
They are a perfect home for a new Museum of London: not shiny new buildings or a grand old palace, but very special market structures grounded in the working and trading history of the city.
Moving to Smithfield from our current site at 150 London Wall means that we will be able to do so much more, for many more people. It will give us street-level entrances in a wonderful neighbourhood, better transport links courtesy of the Elizabeth line, and the opportunity to create innovative new galleries, exhibitions and events. The new Museum of London will be one of the highlights of the Culture Mile, located in the north-western part of the City of London.
The site says: The Smithfield area is undergoing a huge amount of change with:
Farringdon set to become one of the busiest stations in the UK when this section of the Elizabeth Line opens;
The Museum of London relocating to various buildings to the west of the current meat market; and
The growth of the City of London’s Culture Mile as a home for contemporary culture in the ancient heart of London’s working capital.
We have appointed architects Studio Egret West to explore the potential future of the current meat market buildings, and they are working alongside Hawkins\Brown and the Museum of London on a unified vision for the further transformation of Smithfield.
Studio Egret West are responsible for developing initial concept designs for Smithfield market to create a sustainable and accessible place of beauty and opportunity for all Londoners, the focus of this engagement.
The old Smithfield market, the current market, and the new market
1 Museum for London
2 Wholesale Markets site