Turn the corner from St John’s, and away from the cathedralesque meat market that is Smithfield, and you arrive at Cowcross street. Cars congest it nowadays but once it was the concourse and final thoroughfare for cattle arriving for sale and slaughter in the city of London.
Crowding through the bends and curves, a cacophony of animals literally converged in droves. Begun as small, arterial routes in far-flung corners of the country, these cattle caravans widened into a confluence of drovers roads, still discernible and walkable today.
I could cry for the consternation that must have arisen in the big cow-eyes of the animals, having been walked this far from their home meadows, for such an ending. Yet I remain a carnivore and Cowcross street, Clerkenwell continues to captivate me. And so concludes this week’s story challenge: tagged C
Cowcross street, Clerkenwell
The noise of [animals] which were kept in the capital was confounded also with the sound of great herds of beasts being driven to Smithfield…London consumed the countryside…and the noise which accompanied its devouring appetite was everywhere apparent 1
Links
1. Peter Ackroyd “London:The Biography” (2000)
2. British History Online: Cowcross Street
3. Walking world: Drovers’ roads
Reblogged this on 20 Lines A Day and commented:
story challenge: tagged C for Cowcross
hi Laura, you made a heart touching tribute with your words about the Cowcross street: “Cowcross street. Cars congest it nowadays but once it was the concourse and final thoroughfare for cattle arriving for sale and slaughter in the city of London. Crowding through the bends and curves, a cacophony of animals literally converged in droves. Begun as small, arterial routes in far-flung corners of the country, these cattle caravans widened into a confluence of drovers roads, still discernible and walkable today. I could cry for the consternation that must have arisen in the big cow-eyes of the animals, having been walked this far from their home meadows, for such an ending. ..”
P.S.: as a child I lived near the slaughter house of my hometown. I’ll never forget those sheep and cows mourning in their trains, waiting for their final end …
criss-crossed with Cs too for your story challenge – which is chock-full of pathos for the endings
Hard to think about the slaughter of animals. I live out in a country area and see the cows and cattle in the fields all the time…and think maybe I should be vegetarian.
I’ve thought of it too Angeline – tried Vegetarianism for a while too – now I’m just much less of red meat eater
It’s hard to read about it, too… I’m not a red meat eater at all.
tis rather a sad history Amy
I love the pictures of old London-even the ones that have just not changed a lot. beebee I will follow your blog and envite you to follow mine. Best wishes.
even though I’ve lived here for years, the streets of London fascinate – thank you for the follow