was known as Blynesgate and Byllynsgate before the name settled to its present form. The origin of the name is unclear and could refer to a watergate at the south side of the City were goods were landed - perhaps owned by a man named 'Biling' - or it may have originated with Belin (400BC), an ancient King of the period.

Billingsgate was originally a general market for corn, coal, iron, wine, salt, pottery, fish and miscellaneous goods and does not seem to have become associated exclusively with the fish trade until the sixteenth century.
In 1699, an Act of Parliament was passed making it a 'free and open market for all sorts of fish whatsoever'. The only exception to this was the sale of eels which was restricted toDutch fishermen whose boats were moored in the Thames. This was because they had helped feed the people of London during the Great Fire. The restriction has since been abolished!

Until the mid-nineteenth century, fish and seafood were sold from stalls and sheds around the 'hythe' or dock at Billingsgate. As the amount of fish handled increased, a purpose-built market became essential. In 1850, the first Billingsgate Market building was constructed on Lower Thames Street but it proved inadequate and was demolished in 1873 to make way for the building that still stands in Lower Thames Street today. This was designed by the City Architect, Sir Horace Jones and built by John Mowlam. It was opened in 1876 and is now a listed building.

By the early 1970's, it had