The Express.
London, England, 1867-06-06 00:00:00

PRESS, THURSDAY

TILE NEW IIIiA7L,AND POULTRY MARKETS,

.YMITBPIELD.

It is, we believe, more than si:: years since the City
obtained an act for the construction of a meat market on
the site of Smithfield, but now the work appear to be
progressing in earnest ; and yesterday afternoon the cere-
u.ony of laying the chief corner stone took place at the
eastern extremity of the works, Long-lane, in the presence
of but few lookers-on. The process of 'eying the stone was
performed by Mr. IL L. Taylor, chairman of the Markets
Improvement Committee. It is said that the contem-
plated improvement will cost the corporation nearly half
a million, 230,000/. having been paid for the land alone.
The site of these markets is on the north side of Long-
Line, partly on ancient Smithfield and partly on land pur-
chased fur the purpose under the Meat and Poultry
Market Act, and over the goods station of the Great
Western and Metropolitan Railways. Before anything
mild be shine to the market proper upwards of 300,000
cubic yards of earth had to be removed, about 2,000 rods
of brickwork to be executed in vaults. arches, and retain-
ing walls, and 3,000 tons of wrought iron formed in 240
columns, and upward, of five miles of wrought iron girders:
upwards of five acres of asphalts has been spread over the
brickwork, besides concrete and stone in landings and bases
of columns. The building is till feet long from cast to
west and 246 feet wide from north to south, the area
enclosed being therefore 155=6 feet superficial, or some-
what more than It acres. A new road 60 feet wide
will be formed on the north side of the market building,
and continued westward to meet Farringdon-road. New
multi of the same width will also be formed on the east
arid west si-les, awl Long-lane will be widened to 60 feet ;
besides which a public roadway, 50 feet wide in the clear,
will pass through the centre of the building from north to
south, thus connecting Smithfield with St. John-street-
road. A central avenue 2!I feet wide runs through the
entire length of the market from cast to west, transverse
passages branching off therefonn to the north and south.
The shops which face these passages are divided into parts,
and are enclosed with iron framing. The front shop is
open to the main roof, and in it the meat will be exposed
during the hours of sale. After business the stock can be
carried into the back front, which may be enclosed by
steel revolving shutters. At the rear of the back shop as
the counting room, and stain conduct to a re-
tiring or sitting room above. A room of this
sort has been much desiderated by the variety;
parties interested in the trade, and who have been con-
sulted as to the details of these arrangements. On the
same floor are provided water-closets and lavatories. Over
this room is • light roof, between which and the main
roof of markets is ample space for ventilation over the
whole area of the building. Each shop occupies an area
of 37 feet by 15 feet, or 555 feet superficial. Accommoda-
tion for refreshment rooms will be provided in the four
corners of the buildings, where there will be bars on the
ground-floor end coffee-rooms on the upper floor. Post
and telegraph offices will be provided in central and
convenieut places. The position of the markets,
directly over the railway station, afford. great
facilities for the direct transfer of the meat from
the railway vans to the shops by means of hoists,
which are placed at various convenient points throughout
the building. Special arrangement will also be made to
prevent steam rising into the markets. A staircase of
communication with the railway will be placed next the
covered roadway. The roof over the building will be cu-
rled on wrought iron plate girders, supported by' 40 cast-
iron columns 26 feet high, and has been designed so as to
combine the utmost amount of ventilation and light with
the effectual exclusion of the weather and sunshine. The
mansard form of roof has been adopted, the lower pert
being filled with fixed glass louvres, the upper part being
pierced by dormers at regular intervals, so that currents of
sir will always traverse the upper part of the market. The
roof timber throughout are to be wrought and cham-
fered, and the roof over the central avenue
especially will form in its semicircular ribs and
ornamental spandril/ a pleasing architectural feature in its
interior. The roof over the roadway, with shriller ar.
rangements for light and air, will be carried on wrought iron
elliptiail principals, having 'mandrils filled in with light
ornamental iron work. Every effort will be made to render
this roadway • handsome feature of the building, as well
as convenient to the general public and to those transact-
ing business in the market. Externally the market build-
ing presents a well decorated arcaded screen wall, :13 feet
high, in the style of the Cinque-Cento or Renaissance, and
is a free rendering of the Doric order, executed in Port-
land stone and red brick. The four angles of the building
are marked by bold and handsome towers 90 feet high,
square in their lower half, with coupled pilasters
at the angles, and octagonal above, finishing with
domical roof. The centre of each of the long
fronts to the north and south is well defined by the
entrances to the roadway, with its richly sculptured arched
pediment and abutments of clustered plasters surmounted
by large sitting figures. Along these fronts occur the
gateways to the side passages, the gates of which will be
of open cast iron scroll work, coutrasting well its bronze
colour as against the white stone and red brick. The ele-
vations of the east and west ends have their central fee.
tures in the gateways to the central avenue, above the
horizontal lines of the facade ; they rise boldly above the
general line of front, having gates similar to the others,
but much lsrger. Indeed, they will he amongst the largest
gates io Loudon or the world, each leaf being 9 ft. 6 in.
wide and le ft. high, or to the top of the terminating
scroll T 3 ft. v in. From the nature of the substructure,
as well as the necessities of the plan, it was found impos-
sible to construct any large and prominent feature as •
central dome or tower. The architect has therefore sought,
in the importance given to the roofs of the central avenue
and roadway, and to the towers at the angles of the
building, to impress upon his design that unity which in
a structure of this extent is necesury without dispensing
with that amount of architectural feeling that should
. .

both distinguish and adorn the nioiropoliten- niarkat.