Metropolitan Cattle Market
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The Metropolitan Cattle Market (later Caledonian Market) in Islington, north London was built by the Corporation of London and opened in June 1855 by Prince Albert. The market was supplementary to the meat market at Smithfield and was established to remove the difficulty of managing live cattle at that latter site.
The market originally covered 30 acres of the site and grounds of Copenhagen House (previously a pleasure resort and tea garden). It occupied most of the land between Hungerford Road and Hartham Road (north), Caledonian Road (east), Brandon Road and Blundell Street (south) and York Way (west) and its construction cost the Corporation £300,000. Market Road, North Road, Shearling Way and Brewery Road were internal roads within the market area.
The site was chosen for its proximity to the goods yards of the newly opened Great North Eastern Railway and North London Railway to the north of Kings Cross station. Livestock could be conveniently transported to the depots before being driven the short distance up York Way to the market. On market days in excess of 15,000 animals could be traded.
The central market area was arranged in a rectangle with stalls and pens for cattle, sheep and pigs enclosed by tall cast iron fences and a 47 metre (150 feet) tall central clock tower. Dealers' offices were arranged in the central area and slaughter houses were close by. At each of the corners of the main area large market pubs provided accommodation and entertainment for those visiting the market. The pubs were named The Lion, The Lamb, The White Horse and The Black Bull. Today, three of the four remain and, with the clock tower, are listed structures.
In the early 20th century, as the trade in live animals diminished, a bric-a-brac market developed which after the Second World War transferred south of the river becoming the New Caledonian or Bermondsey Market. The markets finally closed in 1963.
The western area where sheep were kept and the northern part of the main market site were redeveloped as medium rise council housing in the 1960s and 1970s. The southern area of the market, south of Market Road, where the cattle were kept and where the slaughter houses were is now sports pitches. The rest forms Caledonian Park. The council housing has been transferred to a Registered Social Landlord, Southern Housing and the whole estate is being regenerated, as is the park.
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