Caledonian Market,1933, by Clifford Hall
The Caledonian Market, Copenhagen Fields, London 1933, by Clifford Hall. Owned by the Museum of London Collection.
Writing in the Catalogue of the Oil Paintings in the London Museum (published in 1970 by Her Majesty’s Stationery Office) John Hayes writes the following about this painting:
This view of the Caledonian Market was taken from the tall central clock tower, looking south-east toward’s Pedlar’s Way and the White House Tavern. The gabled warehouses are not part of the premises but belong to Caledonian Road railway station, which adjoins the market.
The buildings were originally designed by John Bunning, the architect of the Coal Exchange, for use as the Metropolitan Cattle Market, the live-stock market at Smithfield having been demolished in 1851. It was completed in 1855, and officially opened by the Prince Consort. Covering an area of fifteen acres, it provided accommodation for some 44,000 animals. The central tower, built on the site of Copenhagen House (a celebrated London tea garden), contained twelve banks and a telegraph office. Two large taverns were erected on the north side of the market, on either side of a fountain, and four smaller taverns at each corner, all in a sober style uncharacteristic of contemporary public house architecture, and perhaps, as Professor Henry-Russell Hitchcock suggests, piously intended to influence for the better the deportment of hard-drinking cattle dealers.
The cattle market was not a commercial success, however, and by the beginning of the present century its premises were being used as a vast second-hand market, the equivalent of the marché aux puces in Paris. Some impression of the popularity and variety of stalls is given here. Closed during the second World War and never re-opened, its activities are now carried out in Bermondsey Square. The area is now being developed with blocks of flats, and Market Estate has been completed on the north side; but the central tower still stands, and three of the four corner taverns remain in business.
Mr Hayes also informs us that the painting was purchased out of the Joicy Trust Fund from the artist in 1951. Also, that it was exhibited at the National Society 8th Annual Exhibition, Royal Institute Galleries, February-March 1937 and reproduced in The Taltler, 16 June 1937.
It is an oil on canvas painting and measures 70.6 x 90.6 cms.