Smithfield

Smithfield, WEST. Until 1855 Smithfield, originally a suburban district just N. of London, was the chief mart for live and dead cattle, the trade amounting to seven millions a year. At that date the New Cattle Market was opened in Copenhagen Fields, and the great depots for provisions of all sorts were established a little later on part of the site of Old Smithfield, EAST SMITHFIELD is a district between Tower Hill and Ratcliff Highway. It was comparatively rural until the middle of the 17th century, for Charles I. killed a stag here in 1629, but is now densely crowded with poor streets.