A large area, about 3 acres in extent, lying to the north-west of the City, adjoining the Church and Hospital of St. Bartholomew on the west, at the northern end of Giltspur Street, in Farringdon Ward Without (P.O. Directory), and extending to the Bars of Smithfield. Formerly used as a large Cattle Market.
Described by Fitzstephen, writing in reign Henry II., as "quidam planus campus re et nomine extra unam portarum."
Much of it marshy, full of water and mud as appears from Dugdale's account of the foundation of the Priory of St. Bartholomew, 1108, and from Liber S. Bartilmew, MS. Cott. Vesp. B. ix. (B.M.).
Forms of name: "Smethefelde," temp. Stephen (Anc. Deeds, A. 6683). "Smethefeud," 1275 (Ct. H.W. I. 23). " Smetheffeld," 1283 (ib. 64). " Smethefeud " without Neugate, 1293 (ib. 108). " Westsmythefelde," 31 Ed. I. (Lib. Cust. I. 238). " Weste Smethefeld," 1375 (Ct. H.W. II. 185). " Westsmethefeld in the Ward of Farndone Without," 3 Ed. III. (Cal. L. Bk. E. p.279).
Justs held there 1357, 1362, and in subsequent years to 1467 (S. 383-6).
The pens or folds for the Cattle market existed in Stow's time (S. 374), and he complains that it had been so much enclosed and encroached on that there was but little room left for other markets, military exercises or justings, such as had formerly been held there (S. 383).
Bartholomew Fair (q.v.) held there (ib.). Paved 1614 at a cost of £1600 (Strype, ed. 1720, I. iii. 240).
In O. and M. "the pens" are on the western side, and a considerable portion remalned open and unoccupied, and it continued in this state until the 19th century. But the whole of the northern portion is now entirely covered by the Central Markets.
The Cattle Market was moved to Copenhagen Fields in 1855 as the space available in Smithfield had become too restricted.
The name is now used to designate the buildings erected on the southern portion of the area, between King Street and St. Bartholomew's Hospital.