Gillespie and Royle in IHRA part one state that Smithfield was laid out in 1788 as a market. It is likely Smithfield is a copied name, in this case from Smithfield in London which according to Mills (A Dictionary of London Place Names) was already being used as a market for horses and other livestock in the 12th Century. "A 'Smithfield' is a common slaughterhouse or Abbatoir, sometimes having a cattle market or meat market attached. Probably the name originated in the meat market at Smithfield in London. With regard to our local Smithfield, George Benn in volume II, p, 114, of his History of Belfast says - " We cannot ascertain the exact time when it was opened as a public market, but from incidental notices it was probably about 1780, It may have been a grassy field.,, in whatever year, however, Smithfield was opened the Cattle Market was at least settled in it. The cattle in the year l806, and probably many years before, and certainly many years after, were confined by strong, coarse, wooden railings; the pedlar's stalls were on the east side, out of the range of the cattle. This was on Fridays, only". Thomas Gaffikin thus describes Smithfield in 1825 "Smithfield was then a busy scene on fair and market days. It was an open square with a large shed in the centre for the sale of hides and skins, with a strong railing all round, leaving next the houses the breadth of a street as at present, Most of these dwellings were occupied by publicans. Many people resorted to Smithfield on Friday evenings to witness the different spectacles and amusements provided by the grinning clowns at the show booths, and the recruiting parties playing the "British Grenadiers" with fife and drum. On special days the entire military band escorted the party."The foregoing describes the ordinary routine fairs and Friday markets, but the glory of Smithfield was the great Lamas Fair, which lasted a week, with as a grand climax a row and a general fight on a Friday, to the great detriment of the "Cheapjacks" stands and showmen's booths". (Belfast Street Names. John J. Marshall)