Smithfield is a sub-locality within the locality of Farringdon in the northwest of central London, England. For centuries, Smithfield was one of the main sites of execution for heretics, particularly during the reigns of Henry VIII and Mary I. The area is also the site of St. Bartholomew-the-Great, London’s oldest surviving church (founded 1123 CE), and of the meat market, which is the only wholesale market that has been in operation since medieval times. Today, city institutions located in Smithfield include St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, the Charterhouse, and the Livery Halls.