Covent Garden

1. Covent Garden

2. The work is presented by Year 5 students: Teacher: M.V.Shilina • Liza Franzmane • Kate Sokolova • KonstantinGusov • Alexey Colley • Daniel Shadrin • Ivan Grunenko • TimofeyAzarov • Anna Kranarenko

5. The Origin of the name: “Covent Garden” • The name Covent Garden originated from as far back as 1200, when a document appeared with the reference to the Abbey garden that was owned and used by the monks. “Convent” is an Anglo-French term for a particular religious community. In 1515, the Abbey began to lease its walled garden out and adopted the name Covent Garden, which has remained to this day.

6. 13th Century – King John Covent Garden's name has its origins in the mists of time - dating back to the reign of King John in the 13th century. It was a 40 acre site and formed the large kitchen garden for the Convent or Abbey of St Peter at Westminster. For the benefit of modern day visitors, the land lay between St Martin's Lane in the west, Drury Lane in the east, Floral Street to the north and Maiden Lane to the south. The monks' 'convent garden' became a major source of fruit and vegetables in London and, for the next 700 years, Covent Garden became inexorably linked with fresh 'fruit and veg'. 1st Century A settlement has existed in the Covent Garden area since Roman times - the first century AD, when London was known as Londinium. The area around Covent Garden and the Strand was, in the 7th century, a busy Saxon trading port called Lundenwic. Lundenwic was abandoned once the Viking invaders became too dangerous in the 9th century.

7. 1630 In 1630 the fourth Earl of Bedford commissioned the architect Inigo Jones to build houses on the site that would be ‘fit for the habitations of gentleman’. Jones had travelled widely and was greatly inspired by the grand Piazzas and buildings in Italy. He created Covent Garden’s Piazza – the first open square in England. It was essentially an ‘experiment’ in town planning as he also designed the perfectly straight grid of streets surrounding the Piazza. Londoners at the time were used to a much more disorganised road system so this was a welcome change. Many of the original street names from Jones’ time survive: King Street, Charles Street and Henrietta Street were all named in honour of Charles I and his Queen. Bedford Street, Russell Street, Southampton Street and Tavistock Street all owe their names to associations with the Russell family.

8. 1650 Pineapples The first 'fruit and veg' markets were being held regularly in Covent Garden's Piazza. It was around this time that pineapples were first being grown in greenhouses around England and for the next 250 years the pineapple became synonymous with wealth and generous hospitality. It was adopted as a motif by architects, artists and craftsmen, and became the emblem of the market. When you are in Covent Garden Market - look up. On top of each light you will see a pineapple. It is an integral part of the building's fabric - and a key link to the Market's incredible history.

9. 1666 - The Great Fire Of London The Great Fire of London in 1666 destroyed many smaller and rival markets in the east of the city and - almost overnight - Covent Garden became the most important fruit, vegetable and flower market in the country. Exotic items from around the world now arrived by boat from the River Thames.

10. Opening Covent Garden Theatre 1732

11. The Royal Opera House, often referred to as simply “Covent Garden”, was constructed as the “Theatre Royal” in 1732 to a design by Edward Shepherd. During the first 100 years or so of its history, the Theatre was primarily a play house. In 1734 the first ballet was presented, a year later Handel’s first season of operas began. Many of his operas and oratorios were specifically written for Covent Garden. It has been the home of the Royal Opera since 1945 and the Royal Ballet since 1946. The current buliding is the third theatre on the site following destructive fires in 1808 and 1857.

12. The Area of Covent Garden Today • Historically, the Bedford estate had the boundary of Covent Garden with the Drury Lane to the east, the Strand to the south, St.Martin’s Lane to the west, and Long Acre to the north. However over the time the area has expanded northwards. Long Acre is the main street, running north-east from St.Martin’s Lane to Drury Street. • The area to the south contains the Royal Opera House, the Market and Central Square, and most of the elegant buildings, theatres and entertainment facilities including the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane and the London Transport Museum. • The area to the north of Long Acre is largely given over to independent retail units centered on Neal Street, Neal’s Yard and Seven Dials; though it also contains residential buildings.

13. What you can find in Covent Garden today • Long Acre  • Neal Street (famous for its shoe shops) • The London Transport Museum  • The Royal Opera House  • St. Paul’s Church • The Seven Dials area  • The North Hall, West Piazza, and South Hall Courtyard (famed for magnificent street performances) • The more than 60 pubs and bars in the Covent Garden area alone • The Lamb & Flag in Rose Street (the area’s oldest pub)