The public and formal opening of this magnificent building, adjacent to the model dwellings in Columbia-square, recently provided by the generosity of Miss Burdett Coutts, at a cost of £170,000 altogether, for the accommodation of the poor and populous district eastward of Shoreditch was briefly reported in our last Number; which contained also two Illustrations of the new market-house, with a description of its plan. The Engraving on our front page now represents an incident in the proceedings on Wednesday week—the Archbishop of Canterbury addressing the people from the platform on the quadrangle of the market-house. There was an immense assembly, filling not only the market itself, but all the streets around it; the situation, as was explained in our last, being close to St. Leonard's Church, at the north end of Shoreditch, where Hackney-road branches off. The general company who filled the hall and the galleries in it (where the religious service afterwards took place) began to arrive as early as two o'clock, and were received at the chief entrance to the hall from the north, by Miss Coutts's committee for managing the market, consisting of Mr. E. C. Johnson, Mr. Stuart Johnson, Mr. John Hassard, Mr. Henry A. Darbishire, Captain Gardiner, and Mr. Gerald B. Young, each of whom wore blue and white ribbons, being the old electioneering colours of the late Sir Francis Burdett (Miss Coutts's father) in the memorable contents [sic] for Westminster. Lieut.-Col. Thomson and 300 of the Tower Hamlets Volunteers kept the ground within the market-hall and square. Miss Coutts, accompanied by Mrs. Brown and the Right Hon. John and Mrs. Parker, arrived shortly before three o'clock, and was received with most enthusiastic cheers. The Duchess of Cambridge, with Prince and Princess Teck, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Bishop of London, the Duke of Wellington, the Marquis of Salisbury, the Earl of Harrowby, Earl Grey, Lord Houghton, Lord Enfield, Lord Redesdale, the Marquis of Lorn, the Duchess of Argyll. Lady Augusta Stanley, Mr. Hastings Russell, Mr. Sackville Russell, Mrs. Tait, &c., honoured Miss Coutts by being present; also the Lord Mayor, with Mr. Sheriff Cotton and Mr. Sheriff Hutton, Sir William Bodkin, and the clergy of the parish, as well as the Dean and Canons of Westminster. As soon as Miss Coutts had taken her seat in the centre of the quadrangle, addresses were presented to her first from the workmen on the buildings, next from the tradesmen of the market, and lastly from the members of her own committee. A deputation of young girls then waited on Miss Coutts and presented her with an exquisite bouquet made of feather flowers. After this the Archbishop of Canterbury addressed the crowd in the quadrangle, and in brief and simple language dwelt upon the benefits which Miss Coutts had conferred upon the neighbourhood, not only by this munificent gift of her market, but by her model lodging-houses, by her sewing-school, and by all the efforts she had made and was still making year after year to better the condition of the poor of Bethnal-green. His Grace expressed his satisfaction that Miss Coutts had never forgotten that London was "her home" and the centre of her property. A procession was formed, which passed round the building; and everywhere, wherever a glimpse of Miss Coutts could be seen, she was cheered till the large quadrangle echoed again. On their return to the hall, prayers were offered up by the Bishop of London and hymns sung; and then Miss Coutts, accompanied only by her committee, returned to the platform in the square, and in turn, from the four sides of it, declared the market open, amid the enthusiastic cheers of the people. This completed the ceremony, and the public were admitted to listen to the music of the band of the H division of police, and that of the Coldstream Guards, conducted by Mr. F. Godfrey. After eight o'clock the whole of the buildings were brilliantly illuminated with coloured lamps, which task was intrusted to Messrs. Defries. The lines of the architecture were followed with care throughout, and the colours of the lamps were so skilfully blended that the whole quadrangle when lighted up had a charming effect. The ceremony from first to last was eminently successful, and in its enthusiasm was quite an exception to the usual routine.
Source: The Illustrated London News, Vol. LIV, May 8, 1869, p.470