caledonian market, islington, london

the clock tower seen from the gates once stood centrally amongst open pens for the cattle market built by j.b.bunning for the city corporation in 1850-5, until when livestock were still run into smithfield by drovers from all over britain. the live cattle market shut in 1939, the meat market in 1963. since then the low ring of banking and telegraph buildings that encircled the tower have been removed, council housing built over the northern third of the site and warehouse and sporting sheds over the southern third across the road. the tower stands forlorn in a boggy field, surrounded by j.bell's grecian cast iron railings and gates which have been stripped of decorative detail, awaiting some more imaginative use.