Steven Davies is a fishmonger. The business has been in his family for 5 generations. His son is running it now, but he still comes to the market at 5 in the morning. Instead of buying fish he now... © Claudia Leisinger/shotbywomen

Breakfast through the cafe window. Tired porters eat breakfast together before heading home. London 2012 © Claudia Leisinger/shotbywomen

Colin finishes his accounts before he heads home for the day. London 2011. © Claudia Leisinger/shotbywomen

The walls of the café within Billingsgate Market is hung row after row with photographs of past porters. London 2012 © Claudia Leisinger/shotbywomen

George Driscoll and Pikey Bill say their farewells outside an east end Pub. London 2012. © Claudia Leisinger/shotbywomen

Chris Gill, fish porter for 33 years. He has worked 18 years for Roger Barton. On numerous occasions within the last year he tried to talk to Roger about his future - in vain. On April 28th 2012 Ro... © Claudia Leisinger/shotbywomen

Jeff can't imagine working anywhere else. The market is all he has ever known.London 2012. © Claudia Leisinger/shotbywomen

Micky and Brian have known each other a very long time and they both love to delve into amusing stories of the past, Billingsgate, London, 2011. © Claudia Leisinger/shotbywomen

Business in the cafe within Billingsgate market. Its walls are lined with old photographs of porters and views onto the old fish market then located near London Bridge in the city center. Open fro... © Claudia Leisinger/shotbywomen

Brett Singers has been working at Billingsgate fish market for 3 years as a shop boy. Originally wanted to become a porter like his grandfather Edwin Singers. Billingsgate Fish Market, London 2012... © Claudia Leisinger/shotbywomen

Market scene at Billingsgate. London 2011. © Claudia Leisinger/shotbywomen

Colin Walker, fish porter for 46 years. He started working at the old market in 1966. One of his proudest moments in life was the day, when he got his porter license. He was 18 years old. London 2011. © Claudia Leisinger/shotbywomen

"The best part of work is now" Brett and Billy have a cigarette. Billingsgate Market, London, 2012. © Claudia Leisinger/shotbywomen

Michael Nash is a merchant, or "governor". He works for James Nash & Sons. London 2012. © Claudia Leisinger/shotbywomen

Empty market hall. Billinsgate London 2012 © Claudia Leisinger/shotbywomen

Next to the market is the building site of the new DLR station. Billingsgate fish market is located in London's east end, just next to the financial hub Canary Wharf and the newly redeveloped area... © Claudia Leisinger/shotbywomen

First day off work. These porters have come as usual still hoping there would be some work for them. Some have been offered new contracts offering less money and worse conditions, most of them on... © Claudia Leisinger/shotbywomen

Steven Black, fish porter for 20 years. London 2011. © Claudia Leisinger/shotbywomen

Steve Jones, fish porter for 30 years. It saddened Steve that the fish merchants and the porters did not succeed in working together to save the market, but instead fought against each other. Bill... © Claudia Leisinger/shotbywomen

Nick Wilson, fish porter for 12 years. As father of two small children he is worried about the future. Billingsgate, London 2012. © Claudia Leisinger/shotbywomen

A porter transports fish to the customers waiting in the car park. Billingsgate London 2011. © Claudia Leisinger/shotbywomen

John Schofield, fish porter for 30 years. He feels very strongly that the porters have a longstanding tradition here in London. He cannot understand why the City Corporation of London and the Londo... © Claudia Leisinger/shotbywomen

Three generations; Edwin Singers, porter for 53 years, his son Leigh Singers and his grandson Brett Singers. London 2012 © Claudia Leisinger/shotbywomen

Bradley Holmes, fish porter for 20 years, started working at the market straight after leaving school at 16. Now he has a family with four young children and wonders how they will manage. London 2... © Claudia Leisinger/shotbywomen

Gary Simmons, a porter for 33 years smokes a cigarette. Photos of past and present porters reflected in the window looking out onto Canary Wharf, London's financial hub, in the distance. Billingsga... © Claudia Leisinger/shotbywomen

Back and fro: from the cool stores to the stalls to the vans and back again. Overview onto the car park. Billingsgate Market, London 2012. © Claudia Leisinger/shotbywomen

A porter pulls a trolley of fish toward the market. Billingsgate, London 2011. © Claudia Leisinger/shotbywomen

Steve Sheet, fish porter for 15 years. London 2011. © Claudia Leisinger/shotbywomen

Micky Durrell fish porter for 45 years. Porters are said to be the heart and soul of the market. That particularly applies to Micky. His voice and the following laughter can be heard all over the... © Claudia Leisinger/shotbywomen

Jack Preston was last porter to be licensed. He worked for 2 years before porters were officially made redundant on the 28th of April, 2012. Billingsgate fish market, London, 2012. © Claudia Leisinger/shotbywomen

Gary Durden, worked as fish porter for 31 years. But his career in the market began much earlier. When he was a boy, he used to help his dad, also a fish porter, at the old market. He is distraught... © Claudia Leisinger/shotbywomen

At James Nash & Sons fish stall. Billingsgate Market, London 2012. © Claudia Leisinger/shotbywomen

After 45 years Micky still loves his job. London 2012. © Claudia Leisinger/shotbywomen

Bobby Jones, fish porter for 30 years. He feels that it is a pleasure to work with people and loves the fact that there is always something to surprise him at the market.He is very disappointed and... © Claudia Leisinger/shotbywomen

Martin Bicker, fish porter for 24 years. His father was a fish porter too. He explains the reasons behind the license in the first place. One only received a porter license after a successful appr... © Claudia Leisinger/shotbywomen

Billingsgate fish market is located in London's east end, just next to the financial hub Canary Wharf and the newly redeveloped area for the 2012 Olympic Games. London, 2012. © Claudia Leisinger/shotbywomen