Report - Smithfield Market Cold Store - London - 20/3/2010

[Infinity is Now]

Explored with Blunders, VK and my dad (of course )
Wanted to get this out the way before the main convoy came later on, so we cycled up early, missing our usual Saturday morning gym session Was a nice relaxed explore and a chance to catch up with everyone and get a few nice photos! A bit of sideline info:

The Culture Department is to 'list' the Red House cold store, which is part of the former fish market in London's historic Smithfield Market. This is now thought to be the oldest surviving building of its type in the country, and will become a Grade II listed building.

On with the photos.

Really nice spiral staircase:

This roof has seen so many interesting conversations:

Upstairs:

On the roof:

Back down again:

Moving on:

Cold Door 5:

One of many vintage fire extinguishers:

The boxes:

A heavy old trailer, no doubt pulled by some child of my age at one point:

A little worse for wear...:

The tunnel leading to the newer meat stores, the distant sound of a PIR alarm simply adding to the atmosphere. The meat stores were huge, and the power was still on, it was crazy how it was juxtaposed to the ruined other parts:

And a last little look around before we had to make tracks:

I'm sure there was much more to see, it appears that we missed out on some of the 'best bits', but nevertheless, it was a great start to my weekend and an experience I won't forget.

Scott
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[Blunders500]

Shame you all got busted, its rather nice inside.

I quite like the quote on Wiki . .

Of all the horrid abominations with which London has been cursed, there is not one that can come up to that disgusting place, West Smithfield Market, for cruelty, filth, effluvia, pestilence, impiety, horrid language, danger, disgusting and shuddering sights, and every obnoxious item that can be imagined; and this abomination is suffered to continue year after year, from generation to generation, in the very heart of the most Christian and most polished city in the world

Some of my pictures from the visit with Scott below . . .