Smithfield General Market hall to be demolished - reprieve!

[tim]

There was an article about this in the Independent, yesterday, saying in coyuld happen within 3 weeks. Don't know much about the building itself, and whether it is really worth saving but thought it woth posting here, as someone is bound to know more about it than me. Here's an arcticle from Save Britain's heritage

[corporate whore]

Saw the Independent article and nodded (sagely) when I read the bit about such an interesting looking building being replaced by another dull steel and glass office block. For shame.

Used to go to Smithfields (the club) in that building a lot when I first moved to London 9 or 10 years back. Was a good place.

[GarfieldLeChat]

Originally Posted by tim

There was an article about this in the Independent, yesterday, saying in coyuld happen within 3 weeks. Don't know much about the building itself, and whether it is really worth saving but thought it woth posting here, as someone is bound to know more about it than me. Here's an arcticle from Save Britain's heritage

well seeing as part of it was 'accidently' destroied, around 8 months earlier than it was supposed to be leaving traders who had contracts pitches and indeed taken out a court injunction to continue to trade until the end of their contracts, all of which was uttlery pointless as they knocked it down and they could of course trade there anymore ....

this has been along time a coming and frankly though it's a beautiful building the place has turned into a city verison of covent garden now with the fuckign arwful faux market hall frontage in from of the glass and chrome bullshit ...

[GarfieldLeChat]

in fact looking at that site most of what they intend to protect has already been knocked down the site's quite old...

[corporate whore]

You're thinking of Spitalfields. the threads about Smithfields.

[GarfieldLeChat]

Originally Posted by corporate whore

You're thinking of Spitalfields. the threads about Smithfields.

doh!!!

i did wonder where the gherkin had gone

[Crispy]

Correction printed in today's indy : the market stays, it's a building nearby that's being demolished.

[corporate whore]

Yeah it's the one that fronts Farringdon Street. Just as much architectural merit as the main market buildings, but has been neglected over the past 8 years or so - the former club was certainly squatted for a bit, but the whole place is mostly inhabited by pigeons..

[DJWrongspeed]

Originally Posted by corporate whore

but has been neglected over the past 8 years or so - the former club was certainly squatted for a bit, but the whole place is mostly inhabited by pigeons..

yup , top Unsound nights there

it needs redoing but u just know they'll do some thing crap with the site look at the fucking cheque book vandalism of spitalfields , don't get me started.

[editor]

Photos and feature here!
http://www.urban75.org/london/smithfield-market.html

[lang rabbie]

Originally Posted by editor

Photos and feature here!
http://www.urban75.org/london/smithfield-market.html

Top Google rankings already, I see!

There's a good article from last year here

I think the public inquiry starts shortly.

[editor]

Originally Posted by lang rabbie

Top Google rankings already, I see!

Blimey. Although I built the pages and know a bit about search engines, sometimes I'm still surprised how high some urban pages rank!

(Looking for something else, I've just realised that urban's also number one for 'Leinster Gardens' too).

Cheers for the link: I've added it to the article.

[editor]

Here's some more photos from the weekend (I figured I should grab some more before the place vanishes for good)



http://www.urban75.org/london/smithfield-market2.html

[Truepioneer]

SAVE THE MARKETS!!!

They're one of the best things about London

[editor]

Woohoo! The demolition plans have been turned down!

Smithfield market plans refused




A part of the historic Smithfield market earmarked for demolition has been saved after planning permission to redevelop the site was refused.

The western part of the meat market in Farringdon, central London, was due to be converted into shops and offices.

The bid involved demolishing the disused 19th Century building, the General Market and other structures.

But Communities Secretary Hazel Blears refused permission saying the proposal would harm the area's character.

Ms Blears said the existing buildings on the site made "a significant contribution" to the character and appearance of Farringdon, including the Smithfield Conservation Area.

The development was put forward by Thornfield Properties and the City of London.

The plans, which were the subject of a public inquiry, have proved controversial.

Supporters claimed the development would revive Smithfield but opponents suggest it would damage the conservation area and be intrusive.

English Heritage has not listed the General Market Building, but opposed the proposals to demolish it and redevelop the site.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7547439.stm

[HackneyE9]

The actual interior of the modern market is listed, i think - 60s building with big curved concrete roof with little circular windows...

[slowjoe]

fucking right. farringdon is and should now remain a distinctive district of london - not a City splurge.

[corporate whore]

Good news, though I recently found out the row of shops between Smithfields and Farringdon station are about to be demolished, to be replaced with god knows what - a decent stretch of small businesses, including a fruit'n'veg shop and a butchers, all compulsorily evicted.

[Prince Rhyus]

Waits for fellow Urbanites to "big up" Hazel for having taken the decision.

[durruti02]

good news but it's sad how much of the little streets around there, Littel Britain etc , have gone though and many recently .. what the germans didn't destroy etc ..

[lang rabbie]

Originally Posted by HackneyE9

The actual interior of the modern market is listed, i think - 60s building with big curved concrete roof with little circular windows...

The whole of the 1960s Poultry Market has been listed Grade II since 1990.

Originally Posted by Listing Description

The exterior is a remarkable piece of `pop architecture', that is absolutely `of its time'.

is this a euphemmism for "ugly as hell"

The Victorian East Market building is listed Grade II* but the knocked-about General Market buildings to the west of the Poultry Market aren't listed except for the "Red House" former cold store.

[lang rabbie]

Originally Posted by corporate whore

Good news, though I recently found out the row of shops between Smithfields and Farringdon station are about to be demolished, to be replaced with god knows what - a decent stretch of small businesses, including a fruit'n'veg shop and a butchers, all compulsorily evicted.

Is that for the new Crossrail station?

[Gavin Bl]

Apparently it was rebuilt after that end of the market was levelled by a V2 strike in 1944 - over 400 killed, whole thing hushed up as a 'gas explosion' as was the practice for a while.

[Citizen66]

The zig-zags on that building well remind me of my home town.


If only it was round too....

[editor]

I took a quick walk around yesterday and it's still looking derelict.







http://www.urban75.org/london/smithf...arket2009.html