Dating to the Roman era of London, by the 1800s, Leadenhall Market was beginning to encroach on its surroundings with its popularity and rabblerousing behavior. By the mid 19th century, plans were made to turn the market into an arcade such as the one depicted in the plates to the left and below.
During the Regency era, Leadenhall Market was one of two main butchers markets (the other being Fleet Market). Mostly known as the preeminent poultry market of London, Leadenhall displayed a variety of live game and fowl (Wheatley, 2011). People looking not only for dinner but also exotic birds and animals would flock to Leadenhall (I couldn’t resist, okay) (McGhie, 2017).
Two days a week were typically allocated to raw and tanned hides (Picard, 1998).
Cunningham, P., Wheatley, H. B. (2011). London Past and Present: Its History, Associations, and Traditions. United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press.
McGhie, H. A. (2017). Henry Dresser and Victorian Ornithology: Birds, Books and Business. United Kingdom: Manchester University Press.
Picard, L. (1998). Restoration London: From Poverty to Pets, from Medicine to Magic, from Slang to Sex, from Wallpaper to Women’s Rights. United Kingdom: St. Martin’s Press.
