CONTENTS

CHAPTER I

Early history-Derivation of name-The first owner-

Bedford House-Sir William Cecil's lease-Letting out of

the property.

pp. 1-10

CHAPTER II

The improvements-Inigo Jones-The sundial-First

markets held-The letting out of the market-place by the

Earl of Bedford-The Stocks Market in the City pp. 11-16

CHAPTER III

A residential neighbourhood-Emigration of the nobility

and gentry from the City-The Piazzas and the critics-

First instance of brick construction-The centre of art-Sir

Peter Lely, Sir Godfrey Kneller, Sir James Thornhill,

Richard Wilson, Hogarth, Sir Joshua Reynolds, and other

celebrated residents of the Garden-Punch's Theatre-Sport

in the Piazzas-The National Sporting Club

CHAPTER IV

pp. 17-37

St. Paul's Church-Cost and date of construction-Inigo

Jones-Consecration ceremony-Dispute between the Earl

of Bedford and the Vicar of the parish of St. Martin's-in-

the-Fields-Criticisms on the church-First destructive

fire-Celebrated persons buried there-The churchyard-

The Actors' Church-Tom King's coffee-house-The hust-

ings exciting scenes-The "Finish"-Statue of Charles I.

at Charing Cross

pp. 38-58

CHAPTER V

Russell Street and the coffee-houses-Their history and

importance-The first coffee-house in London-Wills's,

Buttons', Tom's, the Bedford, the Rose-John Dryden-

Pope-The assault on Dryden-Various descriptions of

Wills's "The Tatler "-Richard Steele and Joseph Addison

-"The Guardian" and "The Spectator".

CHAPTER VI

pp. 59-72

The celebrated lion's head at Buttons'-The life of a

man of letters in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries

-Ambrose Phillips and Pope-The Rose: its correct

situation-Pepys' description-Tom's, and its fashionable.

clientele-Tom Davies and Boswell-Dr. Samuel Johnson

-Charles Lamb-His appreciation of the neighbourhood-

The Hummums-Dr. Johnson's famous ghost story-The

Bedford and its history-David Garrick-The Piazza Coffee-

house-Present-day Russell Street-Hooper's Pharmacy and

the credulous costermonger-The Harp

CHAPTER VII

pp. 73-92

Bow Street-Wellington Street-Sir Walter Scott-

Celebrated inhabitants-The Cock Tavern and riot-

Wycherley his marriage-Dr. John Radcliffe: his eccen-

tricities-The old and modern police-stations-The Metro-

politan Police Force-Charlotte Charke-Lawlessness in the

streets-Execution in Bow Street-Sir John Fielding, the

first stipendiary magistrate-Crown Court and the Scottish

Church-Broad Court-Macklin and Peg Woffington-The

Wrekin-Hart Street (now Floral Street)

pp. 93-119

CHAPTER VIII

Covent Garden Theatre and the Floral Hall.

CHAPTER IX

pp. 120-138

Drury Lane-Craven House-Olympic and Globe Thea-

tres-Madame Vestris-Lord Craven and the Thirty Years'

War-Terrible condition of Drury Lane in the seventeenth

and eighteenth centuries-Celebrated inhabitants of former

days-Nell Gwynn-Mrs. Bracegirdle-The Cockpit Thea-

tre-Pepys' notes on its destruction-Davenant and Better-

ton-First Drury Lane Theatre-Theatre in Portugal Row

-Burning of Drury Lane Theatre-Sheridan and the House

of Commons-The present building-Its recent escape from

destruction-Celebrated players at Drury Lane-Playgoing

in the time of Charles II.-Present-day scenes-Christmas

pantomime-Outbreak of the Great Plague-Vinegar Yard

and the Whistling Oyster-Old burial-ground in Russell

Court.
pp. 139-160

CHAPTER X

Catherine Street-Brydges Street-York and Tavistock

Streets-Tavistock Row-The murder of Miss Ray-

Wimbledon House in the Strand-D'Oyley's warehouse-

Gaiety Theatre-"The Morning Post"-Lyceum Theatre

and Exeter Change, Wellington Street-The Victoria Club-

"Household Words "-Southampton Street-Covent Garden

Hotel-Maiden Lane-Andrew Marvell-Voltaire-J. M. W.

Turner-The Cider Cellars-Professor Porson-Rule's-

Henrietta Street and its fashionable inhabitants

CHAPTER XI

pp. 161-185

Bedford and King Streets-Half Moon Street-Cele-

brated residents-Clay's papier-mâché trays-Civil Service

Stores-The Garrick Club-Thackeray, Dickens, and other

members-Mahogany first used in King Street-The Indian

chiefs-The Essex Serpent-Samuel Taylor Coleridge-

Stevens's auction-rooms-New Street-Dr. Johnson at the

"Pine-apple "-Bedfordbury-Sir Francis Knyaston and

the Museum Minerva-Garrick Street-Rose Street-

Butler-Chandos Street and its balconies-Sally Salisbury

CHAPTER XII

pp. 186-201

Long Acre-Original name-Abode of the coachmakers

-The Duke's Bagnio: a description-The alehouses-Prior

and Chloë-The Water-poet-Covent Garden quacks-Par-

tridge and Bickerstaff-James Street: celebrated residents

-St. Martin's Hall-Charles Dickens-The Sun public-

house and Ben Jonson

CHAPTER XIII

pp. 202-217

Covent Garden Market as we know it to-day pp. 218-242

3. ST. PAUL'S CHURCH, COVENT GARDEN, ABOUT

1780.

4. THE WEST FRONT OF ST. PAUL'S CHURCH, COVENT GARDEN, IN 1766

5. THE FIRE AT ST. PAUL'S CHURCH, COVENT

8

24

6. THE WESTMINSTER HUSTINGS IN FRONT OF ST. PAUL'S CHURCH

7. LORD ARCHER'S HOUSE AND THE PIAZZAS IN 1796

40

48

8. THE PIAZZAS, Covent GARDEN, WITH ENTRANCE TO OLD COVENT GARDEN THEATRE

9. THE COVent Garden PIAZZA IN 1768