Category: Covent Garden, London

St. Paul’s Church, Covent Garden, London

St. Paul’s church in Covent Garden was designed by Inigo Jones and completed in 1633. Because of its association with the theatre community, it became known as ‘the actors’ church, and was the first new church to be built in London since the Reformation. In 1789, the church was badly damaged by fire and reconstructed by 1798.
J.M.W. Turner was baptised here and many actors are commemorated at the church – either by having their names on benches outside, or with plaques and tablets inside the church. Memorials to Stanley Holloway, Charles Chaplin, Boris Karloff, Noel Coward Vivien Leigh, Richard Beckinsale, and Gracie Fields can be seen. The graveyard (behind the church closed for burials in 1852 but can still be visited.
Image: Photographer unknown
St. Paul’s Church in December 2021. The area around Covent Garden is now a major London tourist attraction.
Image: © Steven Miell (TimeViews)
A merged version of the two images. Use the slider in the centre.

Covent Garden, London

This photograph was taken in 1974 during the last days of the market in Covent Garden. At the time, there was a debate about whether the central buildings (to the left of the photograph) should be demolished or not.
Image: Photographer unknown
By September 2020, the area is now firmly entrenched as a tourist destination.
Image: © Steven Miell (TimeViews)
A merged version of the two photographs. Use the slider in the centre.