Billingsgate Fish Market
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Situated now in East London, Billingsgate Fish Market is the United Kingdom's largest inland fish market. It takes its name from Billingsgate, a ward in the south-east of the City of London, where the riverside market was originally established.
Billingsgate Wharf, close to Lower Thames Street, became the centre of a fish market during the 16th and 17th centuries, but did not become formally established until an Act of Parliament in 1699. In 1849, the fish market was moved off the streets into its own riverside building, which was subsequently demolished (c. 1873) and replaced by an arcaded market hall (designed by City architect Sir Horace Jones) in 1875. This building, known as Old Billingsgate Market is now used a corporate events venue.
In 1982, the fish market was relocated to a new 13 acre (53,000 m²) building complex close to Canary Wharf in east London. Most of the fish sold through the market now arrives there by road, from ports as far afield as Aberdeen and Cornwall.
The infamously coarse language of London fishmongers made "Billingsgate" a byword for crude or vulgar language. One of its earliest uses can be seen in a 1577 chronicle by Raphael Holinshed, where the writer makes reference to the foul tongues of Billingsgate oyster-wives.
External links
- Official page (http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/corporation/our_services/markets/billingsgate/) from the Corporation of London websitehe:שוק בילינגסגייט