As well as being a cattle market, Smithfields was also a popular place for holding fairs, tournaments and public executions*. Mr Monkey inspected the monuments, fixed to the wall of St. Bartholomew's Hospital, commemerating the death of William Wallace in 1305, and the deaths of John Rogers, John Bradford, John Philpot and others martyred under Mary between 1555 and 1557.
* Popular with the people doing the executions, that is; not so popular with those being executed.
Copyright Rik Shepherd and Mr Monkey. This page last modified 25 March 2006