The market was designed by the corporation's architect,
James Bunstone Bunning. He had previously drawn up plans to rebuild the cattle market at Smithfield, before the Corporation decided to remove the trade in live animals to a site outside
the City itself. The market originally covered of the site and grounds of
Copenhagen House, so named as the location of the Ambassador of Denmark's residence in the 17th century. Prior to being redeveloped these grounds housed a pleasure resort and
tea garden. It occupied most of the land between Hungerford Road and Hartham Road (north),
Caledonian Road (east), Brandon Road and Blundell Street (south) and York Way (west) and its construction cost the Corporation £300,000. Market Road, North Road, Shearling Way and Brewery Road were internal roads within the market area. The site was chosen for its proximity to the
goods yards of the newly opened
Great Northern Railway and
North London Railway to the north of
King's Cross station. Livestock could be conveniently transported to the depots before being driven the short distance up
York Way to the market or walked down from
Holloway cattle dock and
Junction Road railway station. On market days in excess of 15,000 animals could be traded. The central market area was arranged in a rectangle with stalls and pens for
cattle,
sheep and
pigs and a tall central clock tower, today the
Caledonian Park Clock Tower as the major remaining element of the market area, otherwise having been turned into the
Caledonian Park. Dealers' offices were arranged in the central area and
slaughter houses were close by. The market was enclosed by cast iron railings, the columns of which were topped with cast iron heads of the animals traded. The railings remain but the heads were removed many years ago. At each of the corners of the main area, large market
pubs provided accommodation and entertainment for those visiting the market. The pubs were named
The Lion,
The Lamb,
The White Horse and
The Black Bull. Today, three of the four remain and, with the clock tower, are
listed structures. A fifth pub,
The Butchers Arms, built to a similar design, was located at the south-west corner of the market site at the junction of York Way and Brewery Road. The building remains. In the early 20th century, as the trade in live animals diminished, a
bric-a-brac market developed, which after the
Second World War transferred south of the Thames to become the
New Caledonian or Bermondsey Market. The markets in the area of the old Metropolitan Cattle Market finally closed in 1963. ==Redevelopment==