For Any in the UK - Especially London

[Post=79538 BobH]

After watching Masterpiece Theater tonight, which featured an Inspector Lewis mystery written by Colin Dexter, the PBS channel showed a perfectly horrible travel film about London. No, London was not horrible but the ditsy presenter who was the hostess should be banned from ever being in front of a camera again. I've seen 3-year olds with more poise, presence, and much more interesting things to say.

No, my question is about how the old Covent Garden flower market building is being used. The film said that it is now a transportation history museum and showed ample evidence to convince me. What I would like to know is when the building was converted to this purpose. I was last there in '91 when I recall that it was a market featuring many stalls selling diverse merchandise. Has the building been converted or is my memory at fault? (It would be no big surprise.)

As a side note: When I was there I was standing reading the plaque about Punch and Judy and waiting for the next performance when I heard a young British mother ask her very young daughter if she needed "to spend a penny." Although I had read about the expression's meaning, I never thought I'd actually hear it. 'Tis a great shame what we Americans have done to the language.

ta

[HansV]

The London Transport Museum occupies just one of the market buildings. See A brief history of the London Transport Museum.

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[StuartR]

According to this history of Covent Garden

The first part of the Flower Market was put up in 1872 - it is now used by the London Transport Museum and the National Theatre Museum.

[Post=79593 BobH]

Thank you, both!

My excuse for not doing a search is that it was too late at night for my brain to function.

I'm pleased to know that the 'flea market' is still there. There is a pub 'round the corner and across of the Royal Ballet, too, if IIRC, and it served a very good pint of bitter.

Thank you again!

[Post=79636 stuck]

an Inspector Lewis mystery written by Colin Dexter

I don't think Colin Dexter wrote any of the Lewis stories, though I understand he does review the scripts.

Ken
PS It's been pointed out by stuckling2 that as we are in NZ at the moment I should change the spelling of my name to reflect the local pronunciation, i.e. I should sign myself as 'Kin'. I'll think about it.

[Leif]

I don't think Colin Dexter wrote any of the Lewis stories, though I understand he does review the scripts.

Hi Kin,
I think they are ghost written by Inspector Morse

[Post=79654 BobH]

an Inspector Lewis mystery written by Colin Dexter

I don't think Colin Dexter wrote any of the Lewis stories, though I understand he does review the scripts.

Ken
PS It's been pointed out by stuckling2 that as we are in NZ at the moment I should change the spelling of my name to reflect the local pronunciation, i.e. I should sign myself as 'Kin'. I'll think about it.

I defer to your superior knowledge of the subject. I referred to his credit on the crawl at the beginning of the episodes. Perhaps I should read it more carefully and shall note that they are "based on" characters created by Mr. Dexter.