Old London. Covent Garden and the Thames to Whitehall - Edward Walford

This volume starts in the parish of St Giles which grew up around the ancient hospital and church as a leper colony. It moves to Drury Lane and Covent Garden with their immortal theatrical history. Two chapters tell the story of these great theatres. Covent Garden was also a fashionable residential area and many men and women of title and distinction tenanted the famous piazzas.;The River Thames in central London has a story of its own and the building of its bridges, the development of its banks, the days when the upper pool was a mass of shipping and trade was brought into the heart of the City are all recalled. So too are the Frost Fairs that took place on those rare occasions when the river froze over completely.;Scotland Yard, ancient palace of Scottish kings, has its own chapter. The Metropolitan police moved there in 1829. Whitehall itself, site of a great palace and all the offices of State, probably has more history attached to it than any other thoroughfare in London and the author tells many tales of the area including the execution of King Charles I.