PUNCH&JUDY 1642 –
COVENT GARDEN HAS ALWAYS BEEN SYNONYMOUS WITH
ENTERTAINMENT, AND IN 1642 SAMUEL PEPYS WROTE ABOUT
THE FIRST PUNCH AND JUDY SHOWS BEING STAGED IN THE
AREA. THESE SHOWS CONTINUED IN THE 18TH AND 19TH
CENTURY AND THE AREA BECAME A MAGNET FOR BOHEMIAN
SOCIETY ATTRACTING MANY WRITERS AND ARTISTS.
1970 COVENT.G
–
IN THE 18TH CENTURY, AS THE MARKETS POPULARITY AND
SIZE GREW, THE ARISTOCRACY THAT HAD OWNED AND
LIVED IN JONES’ HOUSES AROUND COVENT GARDEN BEGAN
TO GRAVITATE TO MORE FASHIONABLE NEW
DEVELOPMENTS IN SOHO AND MAYFAIR.
I HAVE PERSONALLY PICKED OUT CERTAIN DETAILS REGARDING COVENT
GARDEN’S HISTROY FOR A REASON. I WANTED TO LOOK INTO WHICH HISTORIC
MOMENTS ACTUALLY MANAGED TO BRING IN THE YOUNGER GENERATION, FOR
INSTANCE PUNCH AND JUDY, THE MARKETS/CRAFT FAYRES ETC… DISCOVERING
WHEN THESE THINGS HAPPENED REALLY INTERESTED ME, AS WHEN I VISITED
COVENT GARDEN I NOTICED THAT THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE THERE WERE
EITHER TOURISTS, OR THE OLDER GENERATION. THE THOUGHT THAT WAS
CONTASNTLY IN MY MIND WAS ‘WHY AREN’T THERE ANY YOUNG PEOPLE HERE?
WHAT COULD I DO TO CHANGE THIS?’