Billingsgate Fish Market

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The original open air Billingsgate Fish Market in the early 19th century. Boats delivered fish to this small inlet of the Thames and business was conducted on the quayside.

Billingsgate's former premises in the City of London in 1876.

The interior in 1876.

Billingsgate Market's former premises in 2006.

Situated now in East London, Billingsgate Fish Market is the United Kingdom's largest inland fish market. It takes its name from Billingsgate, a ward in the south-east of the City of London, where the riverside market was originally established.

Billingsgate Wharf, close to Lower Thames Street, became the centre of a fish market during the 16th and 17th centuries, but did not become formally established until an Act of Parliament in 1699 ^[1]. In 1849, the fish market was moved off the streets into its own riverside building, which was demolished c. 1873 and replaced by an arcaded market hall (designed by City architect Sir Horace Jones) in 1875. This building, known as Old Billingsgate Market, is now used as a corporate events venue.

In 1982, the fish market was relocated to a new 13-acre (53,000 m²) building complex close to Canary Wharf in Docklands. Most of the fish sold through the market now arrives there by road, from ports as far afield as Aberdeen and Cornwall. As of 2005 there a review of the London wholesale markets is underway which may lead to the closure of Billingsgate (and also the Smithfield meat market), as it is considered by some that it would be better to have a smaller number of markets all selling a full range of fresh produce, rather than separate specialist markets.

The infamously coarse language of London fishmongers made "Billingsgate" a byword for crude or vulgar language. One of its earliest uses can be seen in a 1577 chronicle by Raphael Holinshed, where the writer makes reference to the foul tongues of Billingsgate oyster-wives.

Billingsgate Market is open from Tuesday to Saturday. Trading comences at 0500hrs and finishes at 0830hrs.

[edit] References

^ 'William III, 1698: An Act for makeing Billingsgate a Free Market for Sale of Fish. [Chapter XIII. Rot. Parl. 10 Gul. III. p.3. n.4.]', Statutes of the Realm: volume 7: 1695-1701 (1820), pp. 513-14. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=46945. Date accessed: 09 March 2007.