In the heart of the City, Leadenhall is a
thriving retail centre with a wide range of goods on sale. Its
cobbled walkways and glass roof make it an attractive place to
shop, eat and drink or simply to relax.
The market is located to the south of Leadenhall Street between
Gracechurch Street and Lime Street. The nearest underground
stations are Bank and Monument.
History
A meat and fish market occupied a series of courts behind the
grand lead-roofed mansion of Leadenhall on Leadenhall street in the
14th century. It was an established meeting place of the Poulterers
as early as 1321, whilst the Cheesemongers from the countryside
were bound in 1397 to take their produce into the market of
Leadenhall.
In 1408 the occupational leasehold title of the Manor of
Leadenhall was assigned to Richard Whittington (the Lord Mayor of
the time) and citizens of London, and the freehold was conveyed in
1411 to the City of London. The market continued to be used for the
sale of fish, meat, poultry and corn, although in 1666 portions of
the market were destroyed by the Great Fire. In 1881 the City's
architect, Horace Jones, designed the present wrought iron and
glass-roofed buildings.
A celebrated character in
Leadenhall during the 18th century was 'Old Tom', a gander which
managed to escape execution even though it is recorded that 34,000
geese were slaughtered there in two days. He became a great
favourite in the market and was fed at the local inns. After his
death in 1835 at the age of 38, he lay in state in the market and
was buried there.
Leadenhall Market and other events
Leadenhall Traders' website