Smithfield’s Poultry Market dome restoration signals progress for new London Museum
On December 6th, an important achievement was reached as the restoration of the dome roof at Smithfield’s Poultry Market was successfully completed. This marks a significant milestone in the ongoing transformation of the historic Smithfield Markets site into a cutting-edge new museum.
A special ceremony took place today to commemorate the installation of the final copper sheet circle. The notable aspect of this event was the participation of Chris Johnson, who, at 83 years old, had once apprenticed with the original roofing team in the 1960s. It’s worth mentioning that Full Metal Jacket, the skilled subcontractors responsible for the recent meticulous repair work on the copper roof, are under the overall management of Equans, the main contractor for the project.
In 2016, an international design competition paved the way for the Museum of London’s relocation to the iconic former Smithfield Markets. The project, designed by Stanton Williams and Asif Khan in collaboration with conservation architects Julian Harrap, aims to transform the late Victorian General Market and 1960s Poultry Market into a world-class 21st-century museum. The restoration of the copper roof of the Poultry Market, a significant architectural feature, was funded by the City of London Corporation.
Designed in the early 1960s by TP Bennet & Son architects, with structural engineering by Ove Arup & Partners, the Poultry Market’s dome roof measures 70m by 40m internally and was the largest single-span concrete roof in Europe at the time of its construction. Julian Harrap Architects (JHA), leading the restoration effort in collaboration with Stanton Williams, Arup, and FBM Architects, have successfully addressed the challenges posed by the deteriorating copper roof and concrete structure.
The four-year-long restoration effort involved a comprehensive assessment of damages and the use of modern technologies to improve the roof’s thermal performance. Notable improvements include replacing the original 0.5mm copper sheets with more durable 0.7mm sheets and installing high-performance, double-glazed rooflights to meet stringent museum requirements.
The ceremony also included the placement of various items under the old crown, such as an original penny coin and a newspaper article on the first women in the construction industry, along with coins from 1963 and 2023, and a photograph of the project crew taken in 2023.
Chris Hayward, Policy Chairman at the City of London Corporation, emphasized the significance of preserving cultural institutions like the Museum of London and the rich history they represent. Sharon Ament, Director of the Museum of London, expressed her excitement about the project’s progress and its contribution to preserving the heritage of the buildings while creating a world-class museum.
Paul Williams, Principal Director at Stanton Williams, highlighted the efforts to make the Poultry Market’s new copper roof energy-efficient and emphasized the importance of craftsmanship in preserving history. Julian Harrap of Julian Harrap Architects expressed the team’s excitement to work on historic buildings and the transition to a new role within the modern city’s fabric.
Smithfield Market, originally designed by City Architect Sir Horace Jones in the late 19th century, covers nearly ten acres in the heart of the City of London and was once the country’s most important meat and poultry market. The new London Museum development is a major cultural infrastructure project in Europe that will save the historic Smithfield site for future generations while preserving its history and character. The project will also contribute to sustainability goals by diverting 95% of waste from landfill.
