Comments on: Christmas Meat Auction At Smithfield

By: Alexa

Alexa — Wed, 08 Dec 2021 21:04:09 +0000

My Great-great-grandparents had a butchers there, they were called George Edwin Hart & Ada Hart, 2 sons named George Herbert Hart & William Wallace Hart (my great-grandad). Assuming this corner was named after them, as my nan recalls Harts corner. Just wondering, why exactly is it called Harts corner? What made it become Harts corner (if that makes sense)? I’m trying to look into it and am finding only very little information, would love if someone replied haha! Thanks!

By: dave morrison

dave morrison — Thu, 26 Dec 2013 18:48:14 +0000

I used to work in Ely Place at the top of Chartehouse Street, years ago. That was before the old Smithfield fire, before the Barbican was built and when Gamages was still there. I used to buy my lunch at Harts corner, 2/6d got you a hot meat dinner with veggies, luverly!. The Victoria pub on the opposite corner had a special market licence and the beadle who looked after Ely Place took good advantage of it, and by nine thirty in the morning, could appear very wobbly. At the Christmas meat auction, I can remember capons being thrown into the crowd to stir up a n air of excitement. The Italian shop in the Farringdon Road, going towards Mount Pleasant, used to sell all kinds of strange and interesting foods. Happy daze, Happy Christmas

By: Caroline Bottomley

Caroline Bottomley — Mon, 23 Dec 2013 09:38:41 +0000

Can’t go this year so absolutely have to save the market so I can go another year 🙂