THE world's oldest meat market held its final Christmas meat auction before its closure. People gathered at Smithfield meat market near Farringdon on Christmas Eve to get a last chance to stock-up on food for the big day. At the event this year, people were seen wearing Santa hats and Christmas jumpers as they crammed into the venue for the auction, run by G Lawrence butchers.
![[People gesture with cash to buy meat during the Christmas Eve turkey and meat auction at Smithfield Market]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/epa11791885-people-gesture-cash-buy-959636290.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Butchers and their apprentices were captures in their classic white overalls with black aprons as they began handing out the goods to festive customers. Customers were fighting to get the best meat, whether it be turkey, geese, beef or lamb. All of it went under the hammer.
![[A young meat trader sells meat this Christmas Eve]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/epa11791879-young-meat-trader-sells-959636281.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Traders have sold meat in and around modern-day Smithfield since before 1000AD. A medieval clerk described it as "a smooth field where every Friday there is a celebrated rendezvous of fine horses to be sold". The clerk added: "In another quarter are placed swine with their deep flanks, and cows and oxen of immense bulk.".
![[A Woman holds up sign asking for a rib of beef]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/woman-holds-sign-asking-rib-959655363.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Former customers include novelist Charles Dickens, who described its "filth and fat and blood and foam" in Great Expectations. There were initial concerns that the market would close for good in 2028, but The City of London and Smithfield traders said on Monday that they planned to move it to a new location.
![[A butcher throws a turkey for sale to customers]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/butcher-throws-turkey-sale-customers-959644943.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Bosses had planned to move Smithfield meat market to Dagenham on the Essex border. But they have scrapped the £1billion move amid spiralling costs. Smithfield will not be moved to the new location following the U-turn - but it will still close down.
![[Customers hold up notes of cash at the meat auction]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/customers-hold-notes-cash-meat-959655362.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
