| Original caption: “Demolishing a tower in London’s Smithfield Market which was unsafe after it had been damaged by enemy action. New York Times Paris Bureau Collection.” Londoners watch as the tower of the Smithfield Meat Market, which has operated since medieval times, is demolished in a controlled demolition following a raid by the Luftwaffe (“Nazi German Air Force”). On the night of May 10-11, 1941, London was hit by its biggest raid. German bombers dropped 783 tons (711 metric tons) of high explosives and 2,393 incendiaries. 1,436 civilians were killed. However, this proved to be the last major raid until January 1943. The May 1941 Luftwaffe raid destroyed not only part of Smithfield Market and the complete south side of Charterhouse Street, through to Holborn Viaduct; also the building that stood at the east corner of Ely Place. The Smithfield Meat Market dome was so badly damaged, it had to be brought down by a controlled explosion. The photo reveals the extent of damage to the market building and the completely gutted office block on the other side of Farringdon Road. | |
| Image Filename | wwii2018.jpg |
| Image Size | 931.34 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 2259 x 2886 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | April 17, 1941 |
| Location | |
| City | London |
| State or Province | London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Archive | National Archives and Records Administration |
| Record Number | NWDNS-306-NT-901(69) |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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