London's historic Smithfield and Billingsgate markets are set to shut after the City of London Corporation voted to withdraw support for them, bringing down the curtain on two establishments that have been part of London life for the best part of a millennium.

Originally based just outside the medieval city walls, Smithfield has hosted a market since at least the 12th Century.

With its wide expanse of fields - the name Smithfield is thought to have come from the Old English "smeeth field", which described the flat, open area that spread out to the River Fleet - animals would be kept there for fattening before being sold and slaughtered.

It was mentioned in a text by clerk William Fitzstephen in 1174 who described how "every Friday there is a celebrated rendezvous of fine horses to be sold… [pigs] with deep flanks, and cows and oxen of immense bulk".

[www.bbc.co.uk]

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