- Title: UNITED KINGDOM: LONDON'S 300-YEAR-OLD COVENT GARDEN MARKET CLOSES.
- Date: 8th November 1974
- Summary: 1. GV ZOOM OUT Exterior Covernt Market 0.6 2. SV Sign over entrance to market 0.8 3. MV Porters moving vegetables and fruit (3 shots) 0.24 4. SV Trade in progress (5 shots) 0.40 5. MV Goods being moved by proters 0.51 6. MV Buyer writes cheque 0.53 7. SV Boxes of fruit 0.56 8. MV Florist wrapping bunch of flowers TILT
- Embargoed: 23rd November 1974 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM
- City:
- Country: United Kingdom
- Reuters ID: LVA5MUZO54WZOTX0WAMSGWNNLGF5
- Story Text: Three hundred years of fruit, flower and vegetable selling at London's historic Covent Garden Market ended when the beadle (ceremonial custodian) rang an equally - old bell in the high-arched flower hall at eleven o'clock on Friday morning (8 November).
Covent Garden was one of the world's best-known markets. Until closing day, the 96-acre (39-hectare) site served as the central distribution point for the fresh fruit, vegetables and flowers needed by Greater London's population of more than 10 million people.
The market also served millions more people in a radius of about 100 miles (160 kilometres) around the capital.
It was in Covent Garden Market that the top-hatted gentlemen in the 19th century traditionally went early in the morning to buy flowers for their lady companions.
The gradual death of Covent Garden Market was forced by lack of space, inadequate facilities and chaotic traffic jams in the narrow streets of the area.
The new home for the market is a site at Nine Elms, two-and-a-half miles (three kilometres) away, south of the River Thames. It opens on Monday. (10 Novemder)
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