Hosted by

Stephen

Fry

Sound Editing

Will

Jacob

Listen Now:

0:00/1:34

Season

Season

Season

2

2

2

Episode

Episode

Episode

2

2

2

16

16

:

:

06

06

running time

running time

running time

Covent Garden in WW2

Covent Garden in WW2

Covent Garden in WW2

In this episode, discover how Covent Garden adapted to the trials and tribulations thrown it's way by Britain's fight against Nazi Germany.

Hosted by

Stephen

Fry

Sound Editing

Will

Jacob

Listen Now:

0:00/1:34

Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London, United Kingdom

Put on Your Dancing Shoes

Written by

Joanna

Clarke

Performed by

Joanna

Clarke

About this story

During World War Two the Royal Opera House was converted into a dance hall. Joanna Clarke imagines some visitors to the Mecca Ballroom, based on her very own grandparents.

Delve Deeper

The British Newspaper Archive has an article about dancing in WW2. Facebook has photos of the Royal Opera House as it was configured in WW2, along with dance nights.

Mrs Smith’s Coffin

Written by

Joanna

Clarke

Performed by

Stephen

Fry

About this story

Non-essential travel was banned in World War Two Britain. Non-essential produce was banned from travel too. So how did the flower girls of Covent Garden market get their goods?

Delve Deeper

Google has archived a Garden Museum photojournalism story about flower smuggling in WW2. Dawlish is an English seaside resort on the South Devon coast, offering sandy beaches. Its railway line runs directly along the coast, allowing for stunning views but making it susceptible to coastal storms and erosion.

Keeping Calm and Carrying On

Written by

Joanna

Clarke

Performed by

Jasmine

Elcock

About this story

In January 1941 a bomb dropped on a fruit warehouse in Covent Garden, with devastating effect. Our writer puts a couple of imaginary market traders who’ve been living and trading through the Blitz, into that scenario.

Delve Deeper

The London Transport Museum has photos of people using the Covent Garden Tube Station as a bomb shelterWestendatwar.org has more information about William Samson, the writer and member of the Auxiliary Fire Service who wrote about the rescue and the bomb itself.

Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London, United Kingdom

Put on Your Dancing Shoes

Written by

Joanna

Clarke

Performed by

Joanna

Clarke

About this story

During World War Two the Royal Opera House was converted into a dance hall. Joanna Clarke imagines some visitors to the Mecca Ballroom, based on her very own grandparents.

Delve Deeper

The British Newspaper Archive has an article about dancing in WW2. Facebook has photos of the Royal Opera House as it was configured in WW2, along with dance nights.

Mrs Smith’s Coffin

Written by

Joanna

Clarke

Performed by

Stephen

Fry

About this story

Non-essential travel was banned in World War Two Britain. Non-essential produce was banned from travel too. So how did the flower girls of Covent Garden market get their goods?

Delve Deeper

Google has archived a Garden Museum photojournalism story about flower smuggling in WW2. Dawlish is an English seaside resort on the South Devon coast, offering sandy beaches. Its railway line runs directly along the coast, allowing for stunning views but making it susceptible to coastal storms and erosion.

Keeping Calm and Carrying On

Written by

Joanna

Clarke

Performed by

Jasmine

Elcock

About this story

In January 1941 a bomb dropped on a fruit warehouse in Covent Garden, with devastating effect. Our writer puts a couple of imaginary market traders who’ve been living and trading through the Blitz, into that scenario.

Delve Deeper

The London Transport Museum has photos of people using the Covent Garden Tube Station as a bomb shelterWestendatwar.org has more information about William Samson, the writer and member of the Auxiliary Fire Service who wrote about the rescue and the bomb itself.

Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London, United Kingdom

Put on Your Dancing Shoes

Written by

Joanna

Clarke

Performed by

Joanna

Clarke

About this story

During World War Two the Royal Opera House was converted into a dance hall. Joanna Clarke imagines some visitors to the Mecca Ballroom, based on her very own grandparents.

Delve Deeper

The British Newspaper Archive has an article about dancing in WW2. Facebook has photos of the Royal Opera House as it was configured in WW2, along with dance nights.

Mrs Smith’s Coffin

Written by

Joanna

Clarke

Performed by

Stephen

Fry

About this story

Non-essential travel was banned in World War Two Britain. Non-essential produce was banned from travel too. So how did the flower girls of Covent Garden market get their goods?

Delve Deeper

Google has archived a Garden Museum photojournalism story about flower smuggling in WW2. Dawlish is an English seaside resort on the South Devon coast, offering sandy beaches. Its railway line runs directly along the coast, allowing for stunning views but making it susceptible to coastal storms and erosion.

Keeping Calm and Carrying On

Written by

Joanna

Clarke

Performed by

Jasmine

Elcock

About this story

In January 1941 a bomb dropped on a fruit warehouse in Covent Garden, with devastating effect. Our writer puts a couple of imaginary market traders who’ve been living and trading through the Blitz, into that scenario.

Delve Deeper

The London Transport Museum has photos of people using the Covent Garden Tube Station as a bomb shelterWestendatwar.org has more information about William Samson, the writer and member of the Auxiliary Fire Service who wrote about the rescue and the bomb itself.

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Follow the Footprint

Follow us on your favourite social media platforms to see what’s coming up with HappenedHere, or drop us a line at hello@happenedhere.com.

Follow the Footprint

Follow us on your favourite social media platforms to see what’s coming up with HappenedHere, or drop us a line at hello@happenedhere.com.