The old Spitalfields market is a destination in east London that puts the best indie stalls, trades and street food on the spotlight: a must-go!
In 1682, King Charles II officially granted John Balch a Royal Charter allowing him to hold a market every Thursday and Saturday in Spital Square. Over time, the market became one of the main fruit and vegetable markets for London. The market encouraged Huguenot silk weavers to settle in the area when they fled France from the 16th to 18th centuries. Some of their houses can still be seen around Fournier Street. In 1700s, Irish weavers also settled in Spitalfields following the decline of the Irish linen industry. Additionally, between the 1880s and 1970s, Spitalfields was one of the largest Jewish communities in England, with more than forty synagogues.
As the market fell into decline by 1876, a former market porter, Robert Horner, bought a short lease and built a new market which opened in 1893. In the mid-2000s, the site was redeveloped and became known as Spitalfields. The market is currently open every day of the week and has various retail brands, street-food stalls, bars and restaurants, handcrafted goods and more. Enjoy a multicultural hub where one can enjoy food from around the world, such as Bao buns, pizza, dumplings, Taiwanese pancakes, Ethiopian cuisine, and more.
Sofia Tate said, that ‘It is definitely worth reading up on the area’s history before going to Spitalfields, as it is amazing to see the old become the new in such an up-and-coming area of London.’
