I arrive at Bow Street, the final 'property' in the orange set, and like the previous two 'properties' its a fairly short street just 0.1 miles (0.16 km) in length, and continues as Wellington Street towards The Strand, which is part of the next set of 'properties', the red. The nearest tube station is Covent Garden. The connection to the Police and the law continues, in 1740 the magistrates court opened and the forerunner to the modern police force, the Bow Street Runners were formed in 1750 by novelist and dramatist Henry Fielding. In 1832 the Metropolitan Police built a new police station here and in 1839 the Bow Street Runners disbanded. The police station closed in 1992 and is now a museum. Bow Street magistrates closed in 2009. Whilst I was there the building was undergoing renovations so I was unable to take a photo. The Royal Opera House is also situated here although the main entrance is on the other side in Covent garden. Opening in 1732 the Royal Opera House has been plagued by fire. The first building was destroyed in a fire in 1808. The second building opened in 1809 but was destroyed in another fire in 1856. The third building opened in 1858 and has survived until the present day, although in 1956 the Floral Hall was badly damaged in a fire. In 1994 a modernisation and extension began completing in 2000 which include a reconstruction of the Floral Hall. Before I continue on towards The Strand and begin the next property set I pop into Covent Garden, which as this is during the pandemic, is almost deserted except for a few people eating and drinking at the Piazza. Probably the emptiest I have and will ever see Covent Garden. The London Transport Museum is also here.
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AuthorLouis Mogg. Archives
March 2020
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