Heritage Gallery Exhibition: Billingsgate Market

A new free display with a focus on Billingsgate Market, one of the oldest of the markets owned by the City of London Corporation.

Visit the City Heritage Gallery to see items from the history of Billingsgate Market, and the reasons why it was built.

A Survey of London by John Stow, in 1603, described Billingsgate as follows: ‘… which … is at this present a large Watergate, Port or Harbrough for shippes and boats, commonly arriuing there with fish, both fresh and salt, shell fishes, salt, Orenges, Onions, and other fruits and rootes, wheate, Rie, and garine of diuers sorts …’.

These items will be on display from 27 January to 20 June*:

• Liber Horn, a compilation of charters, statutes and customs made by Andrew Horn (Chamberlain of the City 1320-1328) in 1311, illustrated by small images of fish showing their importance to Londoners.
• A late seventeenth century petition by the fishermen protesting at being '... hindered and oppressed by great vessels loaded with salt and oranges...' and requesting clearance of the dock so they can have access.
• The flourishing market is shown by nineteenth century volumes recording the collection of tolls and detailing the licensing of porters and by a print of the market building designed by Sir Horace Jones.
• Twentieth century photographs of a busy market and of porters plying their trade

*Please note that the display has been extended to 20 June (the original closing date was 16 May).

The City Heritage Gallery is located within Guildhall Art Gallery. We recommend that you book a free general admission ticket to gain entry to the Heritage Gallery.

Billingsgate Market. London Metropolitan Archives