What is the old name for the Covent Garden?

The first historical record of Covent Garden dates back to 1200, when it consisted of fields. Owned by Westminster Abbey, the land where the Market Building and the Piazza now stand was referred to as 'the garden of the Abbey and Convent', hence its name.

What is the original name of the Covent Garden?

Dating back to 1200, Covent Garden's first historical record describes it as fields owned by Westminster Abbey. Referred to as 'the garden of the Abbey and Convent', this land now accommodates the Market Building and the Piazza, from where Covent Garden derived its name.

What is another name for the Covent Garden?

By 1200 part of it had been walled off by the Abbot of Westminster Abbey for use as arable land and orchards, later referred to as "the garden of the Abbey and Convent", and later "the Convent Garden".

What is the oldest building in the Covent Garden?

43 King Street | Oldest Surviving Building In Covent Garden - DD Architects.

What was Covent Garden like in Victorian times?

Covent Garden thrived in Victorian times as the capital's chief fruit and vegetable market, with some one thousand porters working in the wonderful neo-classical 1830s covered market (designed by Charles Fowler, which survives to this day) and surrounding area.

Covent Garden Market In 1960 (Full Colour Video) | Our History

What was the original use of the Covent Garden?

Covent Garden became London's first planned suburb. In the first decades of the 17^th century Francis Russell, 4^th Earl of Bedford wanted to develop his land known as Covent Garden between Long Acre and the Strand. In medieval times it had been a market garden belonging to and supplying produce to Westminster Abbey.

Where did rich people live in Victorian era London?

Generally the nearer to Buckingham Palace the better. The really wealthy had their townhouses which they kept in addition to their country estates. Eventually many of these like Devonshire House and Grosvenor House were sold off and redeveloped as office blocks or hotels in the 20th century.

What is the oldest square in London?

The first square to be called by the name, was Bloomsbury Square, laid out in the 1660s by the 4th Earl of Southampton, who leased three sides of the forecourt to his London residence for building, before escaping from the plague.

Why is it called 7 dials?

The original layout of the Seven Dials area was designed by Thomas Neale during the early 1690s. His plan had six roads converging, although this number was later increased to seven. The sundial column was built with only six faces, with the column itself acting as the gnomon of the seventh dial.

What is the oldest building still standing in London?

Who owns Covent Garden now?

Although most of central Covent Garden is currently owned by Capital & Counties, there have been several freeholders in the area's history, including the GLC who restored the buildings and converted them from their former use (the famous fruit and vegetable market) into the lively mixture of shops and restaurants that ...

What underground is Covent Garden on?

Covent Garden is a London Underground station serving Covent Garden and the surrounding area in the West End of London. It is on the Piccadilly line between Leicester Square and Holborn stations and is in Travelcard Zone 1.

Why is Covent Garden underground so deep?

It was built so far underground because the station and the majority of the borough is on a steep hill. Due to this, the station's platforms are the deepest on the London Underground network. The station also boasts the deepest lift shaft on the Underground at 55 metres.

When did Covent Garden stop being a flower market?

The market was relocated on 11 November 1974 and Covent Garden was left empty.

What is a fact about the Covent Garden?

Covent Garden is home to the oldest theatre in London. The oldest theatre in London is the Theatre Royal on Drury Lane which dates back to 1663. Rumour has it there is an underground tunnel so the stars of the show could swiftly get to the nearby pub.

What is Covent Garden now?

Covent Garden was a former market and is now home to lots of little stalls and shops as well as restaurants and pubs. It's a good place to come a see for street entertainers as well. I would suggest coming in the evening for a good vibe.

Does Seven Dials still exist?

Seven Dials Covent Garden is a unique quarter of London whose star-shaped layout remains as constructed in the early 1690s. It was brought back to life largely through the dedication of the Seven Dials Trust, working in partnership with the local authorities and landowners for nearly forty years.

Where was the St Giles slum?

The area just east of Tottenham Court Road station is properly known as St Giles (or St Giles's) but the term is rarely used, perhaps because this was once London's most notorious neighbourhood.

Was Seven Dials a slum?

Confusingly named for its signature column with six sundials on it, today Seven Dials is famed for its mixture of niche shops and restaurants. However it was once known as one of the great slums of London, rivaled only by the nearby St Giles's Rookery.

What is the oldest street name in London?

Bishopsgate holds a storied past dating back to Roman times and claims the title of London's oldest street.

What is the most beautiful square in London?

Bedford Square Gardens

Taking the crown as London's most beautiful garden square is Bedford Square Gardens in Bloomsbury, the only London garden square designed as a whole.

What is the oldest shop front in London?

Where did poor Londoners live?

During Queen Victoria's reign numerous slums lurked behind the capital's busy thoroughfares: Vicious and overcrowded hovels were sandwiched in between the Mile End Road and Commercial Road in Stepney, wretched rookeries lay behind Drury Lane and filthy tenements lined the west side of Borough High Street.

Where were the slums of London?

Some of these slums were isolated streets that had lost cachet, such as Sultan Street in Camberwell, Litcham Street in Kentish Town, and Campbell Road in Finsbury Park – later described as “the worst street in north London” – albeit being surrounded by respectable streets.

What was the average age of death in Victorian England?

These innovations had little significant impact on life expectancy, though, since most diseases remained incurable. Although Victorians who attained adulthood could expect to live into old age, average life expectancy at birth was low: in 1850 it was 40 for men and 42 for women.