Newgate Market

Newgate Market

Between Rose Street, Newgate Street, and Paved Alley, Paternoster Row, in Castle Baynard Ward and Farringdon Ward Within (O.S. 1848–51).

First mention by this name: 1601 (H. MSS. Com. Salisbury, XI. pp. 156, 176 and 194), but see below.

Described by Strype as a square piece of ground, incompassed with fair houses, 148 feet broad and 194 feet long. In the middle a Market House in form of a cross, standing on pillars or columns. Vaults and cellars underneath, and Cupola or Bell Tower over it. Stalls round about for butchers, etc. (Strype, Ed. 1720, I. iii. 195).

Before the Fire the Market was in the centre of Newgate Street, west of Middle Row, as shown in Leake, 1666, and in a survey of the Greyfriars, 1546 and 1617, in Trans.

L. and M. Arch. Soc. V. 421, and see S. 345. But this position was found to be extremely inconvenient, and it was ordained by Parliament after the Fire that the market should not be re-established in the middle of the street, but that a separate piece of ground should be set apart for the purpose.

In this survey of 1546 it is called the "mele market and St. Nicholas flesh shambles."

There was a street called Newgate Market in the parish of St. Nicholas within Newgate, 1566 (Lond. I. p.m. II. 43), shown in the survey above mentioned.

Market abolished 1869, when Smithfield Central Market was established, and the site of the later Newgate Market is now occupied by Paternoster Square (q.v.), so named 1872.

The market was an ancient institution and it seems probable from a charter of King Stephen to St. Martin le Grand that it was in existence at that time, for he confirms to the College a piece of land "with three stalls in the market" (Kempe, p. 45).

This would seem to be Newgate Market, which was in close proximity to St. Martin's, but it is also possible that it might be an allusion to the great market of Chepe.

Newgate market, a large and very good Market, chiefly for Butchers, Meat, Poultry, Fruit and Roots; it is on the S. side, and near the middle of Newgate str. betn Rose str. there N. and Pater noster row S. and the Market House, from P C. NWly 180 Yds. It was, about the time of Edw. VI, a Market only for Corn and Meal.

Newgate Market before the late dreadful Fire of London, was kept in Newgate street; where there was a Market-house only for Meal, and a middle Row of Sheds, which afterwards were converted into Houses, and inhabited by Butchers, Tripe-sellers, &c. And the Country People which brought Provisions to the City, were forced to stand with their Stalls in the open Street; to the Damage of their Goods, and Danger of their Persons, by the Coaches, Carts, Horses, and Cattle, that passed through the Street. But since the nominating of convenient Places in the City for publick Markets, by Act of Parliament, which appoints the Lord Maior, Aldermen, and Commoners, to appoint proper Places, they have found out a most convenient Place for this Market, and near adjoining; being situate between Newgate street on the North, and Pater noster Row on the South; and betwee Warwick lane on the West, and Ivy lane on the East. The greatest part of which Market is in this Ward, and the other part in Castle Baynards Ward.

Newgate-Market, is situated in a quadrangle, between the south side of Newgate-street, the west side of Ivy-lane, the north side of Paternoster-row, and the east side of Warwick-lane, which is nearly 200 feet from east to west, and 150 from north to south, with a large market-house, and a lock and bell-turret in the centre, and capacious vaults and cellarage below. The houses that form the outside of the square, and the avenues that lead into Newgate-street, Ivy-lane, Paternoster-row and Warwick-lane, are mostly occupied by butchers, poulterers and salesmen, and the centre, by poulterers, fishmongers, fruiterers, green-grocers, buttermen, cheesmongers, dealers in tripe, and such like.

Newgate Market, between Newgate Street and Paternoster Row, and Ivy and Warwick Lanes, originally a meal market, afterwards a meat market, and much frequented.

Newgate Market, before the late dreadful Fire of London, was kept in Newgate Street, where there was a Market House for Meal, and a middle Row of sheds, which afterwards were converted into houses, and inhabited by butchers, tripe-sellers, etc. And the country people which brought provisions to city were forced to stand with their stalls in the open street, to the damage of their goods and danger of their persons, by the coaches, carts, horses, and cattle that passed through the street.—R. B., in Strype, B. iii. p. 194.

This market grew into reputation as a meat market when the stalls and sheds were removed from Butcher Hall Lane and the localities adjoining the church of St. Nicholas Shambles. On the formation of the Central Meat Market, Smithfield, Newgate Market was dismarketed, the shops and standings demolished, and the site, an area of 10,000 square feet, sold by auction, November 8, 1869, for £20,000. On the site has been erected a block of buildings called Paternoster Square with central passages through it from east to west and north to south, 10 feet wide, and streets all round 30 feet wide. Where were only butchers' shops and shambles, are now publishers' offices and ware-houses.

Newgate Market. See also the Shambles.