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Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXIII, Issue 15924, 9 May 1912, Page 4

Tho most notable of old English fairs was that of St. Bartholomew’s held at Smithficld. beginning on tho Saint’s day. Smithficld was then fields, and Raliere, the King’s jestei, bccanio a monk, and obtained from Henry I. permission to build a priory there. On this spot the hospital familiarly known as “Bart’s” is built, and Smithficld market, or fair, at first for wool sales, then sheep, then live cattle, became tho great dead meat centro it now is.