<p>We know&nbsp;that the Romans founded London in AD 43 and abandoned it nearly 400 years later. Once they've moved on, the Saxons moved in and founded a town they named Lundenwic. This flourished into the 9th century before it too was abandoned in the face of Viking raids.&nbsp;</p>

<div>The beginnings of the Covent Garden we still recognize today, originated in the 1630s. The land at that time was literally a Convent Garden which was tended by monks within Westminster Abbey. The land eventually fell to Francis Russell, the 4th Earl of Bedford for redevelopment.</div>

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<div>Feeling that London lacks the grandeur of other European cities, it was decided for the first time to actually plan ahead and something akin to town planning took place. Russell commissioned Inigo Jones to design and carry out the work, who had recently returned to England from Italy bringing with him many ideas generated from the Italian Renaissance.&nbsp;</div>

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<div>As such, he planned a classical Italian Piazza, church and arcaded houses some of which we can still see today. The square was the first public square in London and Jones sought to design a grid of straight streets around the center, rather than the model of lanes and alleys, which are still to be found in much of the city of London.</div>

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<div>The square was obviously of a grand design and unsurprisingly Russell and Jones expected&nbsp;distinguished Londoners to occupy the houses on the square. It seemed strange then that within 20 years of fruit and vegetable market sprung up in the Piazza, this couple&nbsp;with the public nature of the space was soon to drive the upper classes to the leafy privacy of Bloomsbury. In their awake market traders, artists, and thespians moved in and the Bohemian spirit of Covent Garden was born.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div>

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<div>We shall learn more about the history and some of the characters of the area as we move around.&nbsp;</div>

The History of Covent Garden

<p>We know that a small fruit and vegetable market was licensed in the mid 17th century. As the Gentry moved out, the surrounding area started to change in order to support the needs of the market traders and artisans who replace them. There were many diversions to relieve the stall owners of their hard-earned cash. The theaters of Drury Lane and Bow Street were closed by, gambling dens were emerging in the taverns and coffee houses, and houses of ill-repute were easy to find.&nbsp;</p>

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<div>Over time the area was completely dominated by the market which filled the whole Piazza. In 1830, the market plan was formalized as Charles Fowler designed a number of elegant buildings which were built to house the stalls. In its heyday, well over 1,000 Porters were employed and became famous for carrying their wares in huge baskets balanced upon their heads.</div>
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<p>The market flourished well into the 20th century but something had to change. It was increasingly impractical to operate in a congested area of Central London. So, in 1973 with much sadness, the market moved to a new site on the outskirts of town. This relocation was to leave in its wake a massive battle between the developers and the locals. The former were eager to get their hands on the desolate ghost town, which now existed in this financially important area of the capital and turned it into office blocks, hotels, and conference centers.</p>

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<div>Fortunately, the locals galvanized the general public into fighting a vigorous campaign for redevelopment of a completely different kind. They finally won and in 1980 the whole market area was restored and adapted into the wonderful space we see today.</div>

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<div>A thriving craft community operates here as well as the independent shops, wine bars, and restaurants. You can spend hours here browsing the different types of markets, relaxing with friends, and enjoying the huge variety of outdoor entertainments, from the talented buskers which performed for the crowds.</div>
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Covent Garden Market

<p>The church was designed by Inigo Jones and it was cited as the focal point of his Piazza. However, you'll notice whilst we're standing in the square right beside the imposing Tuscan-style Portico, there is no access to the Church from here. Jones's plans proved too controversial for their day. A door in the east would necessitate moving the altar from its traditional position on the east wall, closest to Jerusalem, to the West wall and the Bishop of London at the time would simply not allow the plans to go ahead.</p>

<div>Consequently, the altar remains on the east side of the Church, and the splendid entrance from the square was never used. For those of you who remember either the film 'My Fair Lady' or the original stage play 'Pygmalion' by the dramatist George Bernard Shaw, you may have already recognized the Portico as the spot where the heroine Eliza meets her Mentor Professor Higgins when she's a flower girl in the market.</div>

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<div>Before we move on though, you may take a moment to notice a plaque to the left of the Church which commemorates the first display of the puppet show 'Punch &amp; Judy'. This was witnessed by the most famous diarist Samuel Pepys who recorded in 1662 that he'd been mightly pleased by the Italian puppet show near St. Paul's.</div>

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<div>It's incredible to think that the string marionette known then as Punchinello would evolve into the raucous and irreverent puppet of Mr. Punch, which is still beloved by adults and children alike today. And if you're not sure who Mr. Punch is, take a look at the logo of the Punch &amp; Judy Tavern opposite the Church, you may then recognize his huge chin and red nose.</div>

St. Paul's Church Covent Garden

<p>Before Inigo Jones started clearing land-faced grand Piazza, the land around the marketplace would have been full of very basic slum housing surrounded by open sewers. This was all swept away under Jones his design and replaced instead with more elegant dwellings.</p>

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<div>Probably the most famous building on the road today is Rules Restaurant, which you'll see halfway up on the right-hand side. Rules is said to be the oldest restaurant in London and having been founded in 1798, it's been on this spot for over 200 years.</div>
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<p>Thomas Rule originally opened an oyster bar and he was soon famous for his porter pies and oysters not to mention his superior clientele. Only three families have owned rules throughout its long history and it's always been a firm favourite amongst writers, artists journalists and actors. You can take a drink here during licensing hours and if you step inside you'll be overwhelmed by the audience blender. Practically every space on the wall is taken up by drawings, paintings, and cartoons reflecting famous people and events from history.</p>

<div>As well as the main dining rooms, there are several private rooms, which can be hired for parties. The most famous of these is called the Edward VII room, as it's here where his Majesty entertained the famous actress Lily Langtry, while he was still the Prince of Wales. It's also said that they visited the premises so often that a private entrance was constructed, so they could come and go without being under the gaze of the public.</div>

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<div>Further down on the left you'll see a sign which says 'Stage Door' and this is the back of the Adelphi theater. Right next door you'll find the Porterhouse Brewing Company. You may be attracted here as they brew 9 of their own beers which cannot be bought anywhere else in the city, but for those with an artistic interest number 21 is also the site where the artist William Turner was born in 1775.&nbsp;</div>

Maiden Lane

<p>The story goes that Jones's patron, the 4th Earl of Bedford, was rather careful with his money and when it came to the building of the Church, he insisted to his architect that he wanted nothing more than a bar. Jones apparently replied, ''then you shall have the handsomest barn in Christendom'' and delivered the magnificence of St. Paul's at a cost of around 4,500 pounds.</p>

<p>During some minor building works in 1795, a fire was left unguarded by some workmen and this led to a blaze which largely destroyed the Church. It's generally accepted, however, that the restoration carried out by Thomas Hardwick was true to Jones's original designs.</p>

<p>St. Paul's today is often referred to as the Actors Church because many thespians have chosen this graveyard as their final resting place. Unfortunately, now the space is getting restricted, so some simply have to make do&nbsp;with a commemorative memorial instead.</p>

<p>For those who are interested, inside you'll see memorials to stars as diverse as Noel Coward, Gracie Fields, Boris Karloff, Charlie Chaplin and the screen Beauty Vivien Leigh.</p>

<p>Another memorial within the Church is to the dashing Frenchman Claude Duvall, whose name may sound familiar, but you won't be able to place him in any stage or screen performance. Born in 1643, he was to become one of London's most notorious highwayman.</p>

<p>Famed for leaving the wealth&nbsp;of the&nbsp;richest at gunpoint, he managed to temper the experience by asking the ladies within to dance with him at the roadside. Finally caught whilst blind drunk in common garden, he was sentenced to death despite pleas from many ladies in his life. Hanged at Tyburn in 1670, his body was laid in state in the Tangier Tavern in St. Giles and the event attracted huge crowds from all ranks. It's believed that he's buried into St. Paul's, underneath a stone which reads:</p>

<p>Here lies Du Vall, Reader, if male thou art,<br />
Look to thy purse. If female, to thy heart.</p>

St. Paul's Actors Church

<p>There are many that claim the title and perhaps it's difficult to judge who should be the Victor, but it's certain that the Lamb and Flag is one of London's oldest licensed premises. Originally known as the Cooper's Arms, it's been a public house since 1623 and in fact escaped destruction in the Great Fire of London in 1666.</p>

<p>It's well recorded that the poet and satirist John Dryden was attacked and nearly beaten to death in the alley running alongside the pub in 1679. It was generally accepted that the culprit was someone who felt that his prose was aimed at them and had taken offense, but there were many different conspiracy theories and the act was laid at the door of many different people, varying from fellow poet the Earl of Rochester to the Duchess of Portsmouth, who was one of the many mistresses of King Charles II.</p>

<p>This whole area gradually degenerated into a slum and was known locally as the Holy Land. During this time the pub became known as the bucket of blood. Apparently, because bare-knuckle fights were held on the premises.</p>

<p>Following regeneration in the mid-19th century, the area began to pick up once more and the Lamb and Flag today is very popular with locals and office workers.</p>

The Lamb & Flag Pub

<p>The layouts of the area known as Seven Dials was introduced by its developer Thomas Neal in the 1690s. Originally belonging to the hospital of St. Giles, which existed for the treatment of lepers, the land was eventually seized for the crown by Henry VIII.</p>

<p>In return for a promise to raise money on behalf of the crown, Neal was granted the freehold by William III. Keen to capitalise on his investment, Neal felt that he should maximize the number of houses he could fit into the space. To achieve this, he abandoned the grid system employed by Inigo Jones in the market area and chose instead six roads radiating from a central point. This was eventually changed to seven roads in the execution of the plans.</p>

<p>Neal was keen to market Seven Dials as the most desirable address in London. At first, he had some success as the well-to-do were drawn to the area because of the elegant housing around Inigo Jones's Piazza. In keeping with this plan the original Sundial Pillar, which was cited here, was carved by the most venerated sculptor and stonemason of his generation - Edward Pierce.</p>

<p>More used to working with Wren on embellishments for city churches, Pierce designed the first pillar which was considered as one of the great public ornaments. Unfortunately, as the fruit and vegetable market began to repeal the more professional clientele from The Piazza, the surrounding areas also declined. Neal stepped away from his interest in the development and gradually Seven Dials deteriorated into an active commercial area, with the houses being split into tenements and storerooms. Finally, it became part of the notorious slum known as St. Giles Rookery.</p>

<p>At some point during the decline of the area, the original Sundial disappeared. There's some mystery as to when and why this happened and some stories tell of the locals removing it to look for treasure supposedly buried beneath it. The truth seems to be that the paving commissioners had it removed in the early 1770s, in an attempt to try and discourage undesirables from congregating around it.</p>

<p>Once demolished, it left London to finally reappear well outside of the city. Today, you can see the original on the Village Green in Weybridge in Surrey, as it was adapted to be a monument to the widowed Duchess of York, who died at her country house in the area.</p>

<p>As with all great cities, the fortunes of the area rose and fell over the decades until slum clearance programs in the early 19th century saw the area return to largely commercial use.</p>

<p>We've already heard about the battle for common garden, once the market was relocated. Again, had the plans for the high-rise offices gone through, most of Seven Dials would have disappeared at that time. As you can see, however, regeneration via conservation is the watchword here and this has resulted in the original street plan being retained.</p>

<p>The shops and businesses you'll find on our walk are a much more exciting mix of individuality and eccentricity than you'll find in any other commercial and tourist areas of the city.</p>

<p>As part of the Regeneration Project, the Seven Dials Monument Charity was formed in 1984 with the express purpose of restoring a Sundial Pillar to the community. Ideally, it would have been satisfying to have seen the original monument returned from Weybridge, but this proved impossible, and so the architect Red Mason was commissioned to reproduce the Sundial pillar as faithfully as possible.</p>

<p>Using Pierce's original plans, which were available through the British Museum, and consulting the existing pillar in Surrey, which strangely did not exactly match Pierce's plans, the pillar we see today was produced using 17th-century building techniques. Caroline Webb designed and cited the 6 sundials and they're accurate to within ten seconds at all times. All in all, it was a massive operation and was completed with an unveiling ceremony in July 1985.</p>

<p>There are so many individual shops, boutiques, and cafes bars in the area. We're sure you'd like to spend some time browsing around..</p>

Seven Dials

<p>This vibrant and colorful space is often overlooked by visitors and London as alike, as it's easy to become disoriented in the radiating streets of Seven Dials. You may realize of course that the Yard has been named after Thomas Neal, the original developer of the 1690s.</p>

<p>Businesses here have developed gradually from simple warehousing for common garden market through to more glamorous enterprises providing scenery, costumes, and props for the surrounding theater district.</p>

<p>As you will see as you look around today, there's a village feel here and this was purposely developed from the 1970s onwards. Envisage us&nbsp;somewhere busy Londoners could come to unwind, home food replaced fast food&nbsp;and Neal's Yard Dairy, now situated close by in Shorts Garden, which originally sold mainly ice cream, now also specializes in British cheeses.</p>

<p>Following the alternative theme, Neal's Yard Remedies was also founded here and today is a major provider of complementary and herbal remedies, which can be found the world over.</p>

Neal's Yard

<p>Opened in 1907, Covent Garden is one of the most heavily used underground stations in the capital. We didn't want to worry you before you've taken the tour but when you travel back you may be accompanied by the well-known ghost of William Terriss.</p>

<p>Terriss had been the owner of the Adelphi theater. You may remember we saw the stage door earlier and he was also much admired as an actor during the late 19th century. He was murdered in 1897 by a jealous rival Richard Prince, who had ruined his own stage career through alcohol and laziness.</p>

<p>Prince had been fired from the Adelphi and took out his anger on his former benefactor by stabbing him three times until he was dead. Prince was found to be insane and spent the rest of his days in Broadmoor Mental Asylum, where he wrote his own plays and performed in the starring role to entertain his fellow inmates. Meanwhile, the world of theater had lost one of its leading lights.</p>

<p>Covent Garden Tube Station stands on the site of a bakery which Terriss visited daily. This seems to be a habit he still employs, as on more than one occasion station staff has&nbsp;seen an apparition dressed in a cloak and carrying a cane and pail gloves. He's been spotted not only in the station but also in some of the tunnels below ground. So, if you should see him&nbsp;on your journey home tonight, please do not be afraid as he's never been reported to do anything untoward.</p>

Covent Garden Tube Station

<p>Only in London for a few days, and would like to take in some culture, but also get the chance for some shopping and relaxing?<br />
Then Covent Garden is definitely the walk for you!<br />
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Very few people can resist the allure of the area which is a heady mix of markets, theatres, churches, cafés, bars and restaurants. All of these elements are brought together in the historic setting of Inigo Jones’ landmark Piazza designed in the 17th Century. This vibrant and exciting area of central London is unique in having not only a long and varied history but also some of the best retail therapy in the capital!</p>

London

London: The Covent Garden

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