Travel back to the seventeenth century and meet master-builder Inigo Jones, who has been summoned for a meeting with the Earl of Bedford. In this episode we chart the conception of the Covent Garden piazza.
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Bedford House
,
Covent Garden
,
London
How would YOU change London?
Written by
Hamish
Roberts
Performed by
Stephen
Fry
Delve Deeper
Wikipedia has a map of Bedford House and its environs from 1690, showing the Covent Garden Piazza, St Paul’s church to its east, the formal gardens of Bedford House to the south etc.
About this story
Master-builder and architect Inigo Jones is summoned to meet the 4th Duke of Bedford in 1629. What does the Duke want, and will Jones accept the challenge?
The streets of
,
London
Walking in the Air
Written by
Hamish
Roberts
Performed by
Stephen
Fry
Delve Deeper
The History of London website has an article about Jones and Covent Garden, along with a contemporary picture of the west side of the square, showing St Paul’s church.
About this story
Writer Hamish Roberts considers what Inigo Jones might have thought about in 1629 as he considered his options for the Covent Garden site the Duke of Bedford asked him to develop.
Bedford House
,
Covent Garden
,
London
Space
Written by
Hamish
Roberts
Performed by
Stephen
Fry
Delve Deeper
British History Online has a detailed article about the Piazza.
Britannica has a biography of Jones, and Poetry Nook has Ben Jonson’s poem about Inigo.
About this story
It is 1629. Architect Inigo Jones presents his ideas for Covent Garden’s redevelopment - and the thinking behind it - to the landowner, the 4th Duke of Bedford.
