The Sun.
London, England, 1850-10-19 00:00:00

SMITHFIELD MARKET COMMISSION.

MR. BUN NING'S PLAN.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1850,

GEORGE CORNEWALL LEWIS, Eiq., M.P., in the Chair.
Henry Lowm,ln Taylor, Esq.; Thomas Henry Hall,
Esq ; Mr. Deputy Hicks; James Low, Lei ; Thomas
DAM, Esq.; Mr. Sergeant Merev% ether (Town Clerk
of the City of London); Thomas Saunders, Esq.
(Comptroller) ; Edward Tyrrell, Ebq. (Remem-
brance* J. B. Banning, E.. 1. (Architect), attended
the Commissioners.

2173. You appear as a deputation from the Markets
Improvement Committee of the Corporation of London?
Mr. Taylor--We do. We will produce to the Commis-
sioners a plan that we have prepared, which we hope
will show that we have endeavoured to meet the diffi-

culties and objections which at present exist.
Mr. Bunning—This is a plan [producing the same]
showing Smithfield-market as it is at the present mo-

ment, with the surrounding property. It is proposet to
clear 8-1 acres, extending westward and northward from
the present site of Smithfield, upon an inclined plane of
lin 100. The bullocks on the south side and the sheep
in these pens on the north side upon a regular hanging
level. One entrance is provided at the south-cast side.
A vast number cf cattle come along Long-lane. A new
street is intended to be cut from Holborn-hill to Long-
lane; and it would be a very desirable thing to do when
the market should be removed from this space, but should
it be opened now while the market is here, it would be
inconvenient that the traffic should pass through where
the cattle are, but by this arrangement the cattle will be
entirely taken out of the thoroughfares and enclosed; in
fact the market could he locked up. Cattle coming
down Long-lane would enter the market at this point,
immediately opposite St. Bartholomew's Hospital, and,
they would go down the inclined plane to the ties and
the sheep also. There is another entrance from
St. John's-street. There is also an entrance from
Cow-cross-street ; there is an entrance from Turnmill-
street, ono also in the centre, and one at the extreme
southern point, so that the cattle and sheep having to
pass over Blackfriars'-bridge (which they do in consider-
able number) would go in this direction through Far-
ringdon-street. On the upper level is provided space on
one side for the pig-market, and on the other side for the
calf-market. From one side, round to the east by the
other side, there will be a series of arches 32 feet in
depth, the light coming into them from the area. These
would be formed into layers for the cattle unsold on the
Monday's market, so that instead of driving them any
distance from the market and returning again, they
would remain here to be sold till the next market-day.
These layers I propose to ventilate by means of a disc,
driving the air through the whole of the cells by under-
ground drains. There is no difficulty in that, because
we should blow the air out immediately through all the
openings. Then, at the base of the cattle-market, it is
propose to put the dead-meat market. This plan shows
the various entrances ; the houses surrounding the
markets, and the shops in the interior, all of which will
be explained to you on a model which has been prepared.
Attached to these markets, it is proposed to arrange
slaughter- houses upon this spot. It is considered that
about 1,000 bullocks a week and about 5,000 sheep
are slaughtered at the present moment, and our plan
provides for that number. Well-ventilated slaughter-
houses could be arranged on this site to any extent,
without displacing valuable property.
2174. Will you explain exactly the changes with re-
ferences to the area which you propose to make? Do
you propose to give up any portion of the area of the
present market, and to take in any new area?—We give
up this portion of the market opposite St. Bartholomew's
Hospital, which is now occupied by bullock-rails, and
this portion next Long-lane, where the sheep are.
2175. How do you propose to appropriate those por-
tions of space?—My idea was to put baths and wash-
houses upon a part, and the Haymarket to surround it.
2176. What is the area taken away from the present
market according to your plan?—lt is very considerable.
We have 8i acres provided here, and I should think
there was very little more than an acre remaining of the
present site included in it—the site is shifted more west-
ward.
2177. What is the present area of the market?—As
nearly as possible, six acres.
2178. Out of those six acres you propose to retain
about one acre?—Yes.
2179. Then to that one acre you propose to add about
seven acres not now used for the purposes of the market?
—Yes, le ; there are 12 acres altogether, consisting of
34 and Bi, and the slaughter-homes besides.
2180. What is the entire area which would be appro-
priated to the live-stock market, the dead-meat market,
the slaughter-houses, and all purposes connected with
the market, according to your plan?-124 acres ; then
I propose to erect a fountain here, by which we should
be enabled, if it were considered desirable, to furnish
the cattle with water; and it would be used for clean-
ing the market. There is a good deal of difficulty, in
dry weather, in cleansing the market, but with the as-
sistance of the water, the drains might be flushed and
the market swept, and cleansed immediately aLer the
market was closed. The. e is great facility for drain-
age down this large sea er, which runs direct towards
Blackfriars. The whole market could be cleansed by
those means with the greatest facility, and the cattle
provided with water, if deemed necessary. I do not
know whether the Commissioners are aware of the
miserable property which now covers this ground. It is
of the most inferior description. Here is a plan on
which it is shown. It comprehends Sharp's-alley, where
there is a large knacker's, and sever al slaughter-houses,
and where the houses are of the worst description ; and
Fox and Knot-court, where the houses are also bad; and
Garden-court, which is of a very inferior description of
property ; and Red Lion-alley, and Red Lion-place.
With the exception of the houses that we pull down in
Victoria-street, and some houses surrounding Smith-
field. the whole is of a very inferior description.
2181. What proportion of that is beyond the City
boundaries ?—That is indicated by this line—all south
of that line is in the City; all north out.
2182. How far do you go out of the City boundaries?
—About 250 feet.

2183. Does this plan provide much better accommodation
for both descriptions of steep, cattle and sheep, than the
present market affords think so; every portion that
is enclosed here will be occupied fur the express use of
the cattle. In the present bite the road-ways are it,-

eluded in it.
2154. What is the difference between the area appro-
priated to the purposes of the live-stuck market, accord-
ing to your plan, and i❑ the present market?—lt is
nearly double in this plan.
2185. Will there be room, according to your plan, to

tie all the oxen to rails?—Every one.
2186. There will be no ring•droras? —None.
Mr. Taylor—At the present time 2,750 only can be
tied; we propose to provide accommodation to tie 5.000,
which is the maximum number exposed in Smithfield.
The accommodation for sheep also in this new plan will
be sufficient for the full number that ever has come to
Smithfield.
2187. How many do you provide lairage for?-1,000
bullocks and 5,000 sheep.
2188. By what means do you propose to acquire this
property which is not in the hands of the City?—By an
Act of Parliament. _ .

2189. With regard to the dead-moat market, what is
the difference between the accommodation proposed by
you and the existing accommodation in Newgstc-
market ? Mr. Bunning—lt is about three times the
area. _

2190. When you say it is three time as much, do you
mean three times the size of Newgate-market as far as
it is the property of the Corporation, or do you include
the neighbouring houses?—There was a calculation
made, that about 60,000 or 70,000 superficial feet would
be required, taking the homes alluded to which surround
the market. Now in this plan we have 108,800 super-
ficial feet.
2191. What is the exact difference in point of size
beta een this proposed plan and the present extent of
Smithfield-market?-1 think it may be fairly computed
at twice the area of the present market.
2192. What is the size of the proposed area, not
eluding the dead-meat market?—Eight and a (paver

acres.
2193. The present market is six?—Yes, that includes
the roads; this does not. By the arrangement of the
market in the form in which it is here laid out as to
carriage-ways, the public will be enabled to pass round
the market at every possible point, but they will not pass
in any way through it; no vehicle of any kind can pass
through it, unless allowed to do so by the authorities.
This has been the great object of moving the market-
place more to the westward.
2194. Was the plan of the dead meat market laid out
with the view of superseding all the dead markets in
the metropolis, or only Netvgate-market?—Only New-
gate-market.
2195. What is the nearest point to which any railway
comes from this site?—lt is about the same as at the
present moment.
2196. C/11 you state the number of animals that could
be slaughtered daily 7—They are calculated at 1,000
bullocks a-week, but additional space could be taken to
any extent, without injuring valuable property, because
from this point of the Sessions-house it is one continuous
line of bad property, knackers' yards, gut-spinners, and
all sorts of objectionable trades.
2197. Supposing: the area that you have laid down for
slaughter-houses should not bo found sufficient, what
quantity of land could you add to it ?—Speaking within
reason, almost any amount ; it is but to continue north-
ward. All the property is bad up to the. Session-
s, house.
2198. Is the burial-ground now used ?—No, it has not
been wed for some years.
2199. Is the ;proposed area for the slaughter-houses
Within the City, or out of the City ? —That is out of the
City.
2200. With respect to the lairage, are the animals all
to be tied up ?—Yes.
Mr. Taylor—There has been different suggestions
made to extend the market. We have had other plans
prepared to see which would be the best mode of effect-
ing the object; but we thought that the remodelling of
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does not interfere with the public roads at all.
2202. Supposing this should be thought sufficient,
have you the power still further of increasing the market?
Mr. Bunning—By increasing the excavations, and by
removing the portion which has written upon it " building
frontages."
2203. What space does that occupy—how much
could you add?—Not quite half an acre.
2204, Could not the dead-meat market be extended
also?—lt might be taken further to the south to that
extent.
2205. Are the approaches to the projected live-stock
market generally better than those to the present mar-
: ket?—They are wonderfully improved.
'\ 2206. Ate, the approaches to the projected dead-meat