https://images.app.goo.gl/akqD6jxtKjtMhkfp6

This picture is from the Old England Pictorial Museum. It was originally drawn by F Nash and engraved by A.C Allen in 1824. It depicts the bustling business of the market around the time that David Copperfield would have been in it.

Covent Garden Market Https://c8.Alamy.com/Comp/MT822X/Covent-Garden-Market-Westminster-London-England-in-the-Early-19th-Century-from-Old-England-a-Pictorial-Museum-Published-1847-MT822X.Jpg. Westminster City Archvies, images.app.goo.gl/akqD6jxtKjtMhkfp6.

Disorderly and bustling, Covent Garden Market in the 19th century had a reputation for being active and busy. Despite it’s cramped quality, and the buildings that were falling apart, it was a popular spot to visit fruit and vegetable stalls as well as buy flowers and other goods. The Earl of Bedford owned the market, and in 1830 rebuilt it when the debt of vendors who didn’t bother to pay their toll exceeded profit. There was an abundance of produce and vendors, and the chaos was part of the charm. Vendors were often assisted by Barra Boys, who wheeled the carts as vendors scoped the area for a place to set up. The community consisted of everyone from small children trying to earn money selling flowers or assisting vendors to established merchants. 

Covent Garden also has a theatrical legacy that extended to create a hub of theaters, so much so that thirteen theaters were built in walking distance of each other. The four main ones are St. Paul’s Church, the Royal Opera, the Theater Royal and the Lyceum. St. Paul’s Church is known for hosting actor funerals, often memorializing actors on plaques inside. The Royal Opera is most known for being destroyed and reconstructed three times, it was built in 1732 and was originally named Covent Garden Theater. The Theater Royal is the oldest theater site in London and was at one point the only theater allowed to perform spoken drama. The Lyceum theater was known for finding a loophole in performing spoken dramas, keeping music in their performances to curb the law in their favor. 

(www.communitysites.co.uk), Community Sites. “Daily Life in the 19th Century: Covent Garden Market: Covent Garden - 400 Years of History: Covent Garden Memories.” Daily Life in the 19th Century | Covent Garden Market | Covent Garden - 400 Years of History | Covent Garden Memories, Nigel T Epsey, Peter Daniel, 1 Jan. 1AD, www.coventgardenmemories.org.uk/page_id__59.aspx?path=0p36p.

(www.communitysites.co.uk), Community Sites. “The History of Theatre in Covent Garden: London's Theatreland: Covent Garden Theatres: Covent Garden - 400 Years of History: Covent Garden Memories.” The History of Theatre in Covent Garden | London's Theatreland | Covent Garden Theatres | Covent Garden - 400 Years of History | Covent Garden Memories, Nigel T Epsey, 1 Jan. 1AD, www.coventgardenmemories.org.uk/page_id__56.aspx?path=0p36p42p.

Dickens was obviously very fond of this market. In another work called Little Doritt, the market appears again. Dickens describes it as “a place of past and present mystery, romance, abundance, want, beauty, ugliness, fair country gardens, and foul street gutters; all confused together.” I think that places like this serve as touchstones for the author, but also for the reader. It is a descriptive place, and it’s clearly full of characters. I wouldn’t be surprised if some of the inspiration for Dickens’ characters came from places like Covent Market. I think places like Covent Market are used as ways to observe humanity in as many forms as possible, interacting with a cast of people that they might not have otherwise. In places like Covent Market, the interactions between people are at their most natural. It’s clear that the more quirky characters from his novels, and even David himself, are likely influenced by Dickens’ experiencing those kinds of people for himself. 

Stories that are written about humanity, and at their core, about people like Dickens’ novels are, have a quality about them that can not be made up. Dickens had to observe people are they interacted with each other, but he also had to observe the way he interacted with them. When writing these novels, the natural flow of conversation is paramount, as well as having vibrant and descriptive places that pull the reader into the novel, and into the time. While Dickens probably saw the market as chaotic and disorderly, his fondness and optimism for people in all of their personal quirks as they navigated their relationships inspired him. Reading about the market, it’s clear why.