Covent Garden history

The land used to belong to the convent of St Peter at Westminster - hence the name Covent (or “convent”) Garden. After Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries, the land came into the possession of the Earl of Bedford. His successor engaged Inigo Jones to create a new square which was to include St Paul’s Church and houses built round a large open courtyard or piazza. The houses were built in 1639. They were initially very popular with rich tenants wanting to live in London. But Covent Garden gradually fell out of favour as the richer folk moved further west and wanted bigger houses. In 1670 the Fifth Earl of Bedford was given the right to set up a market for fruit, flowers, and herbs in Covent Garden. The market gradually expanded to take over the whole piazza. The area generally had turned into an extremely rough one, with a large number of brothels taverns and gambling dens. The market itself expanded to include poultry and other goods. The Sixth Duke of Bedford acquired additional powers from Parliament to reorganise the area. He had a new market building constructed in the 1830s, designed by Charles Fowler. The buildings were renovated in the 1870s and 80s, and the Floral Hall, designed by E M Barry, was opened in 1860. The 11th Duke of Bedford sold the market to Covent Garden Estate Co Ltd in 1918. The market continued until 1974 when it was moved to Nine Elms across the river and became the New Covent Garden market. Greater London Council restored Covent Garden as a shopping and leisure area. The flower market became the London transport Museum but the rest of the buildings were converted into small attractive shops.

A theatre was constructed in Bow Street in 1732, and several Handel operas were staged their in the mid 18th century. Several replacement theatres followed. E M Barry designed the existing Royal Opera House in 1858. This was renovated and considerably extended in the 1990s.