Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
The newly built Courthouse and Police Station, Bow Street, in 1881. The exterior of the building looks much the same today.
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
The entrance to the Museum is in Martlett Court, just off Bow Street (photo by Roger Johnson)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
Our party consists of two groups. One visits the Museum first, while the other explores the surrounding area. The guide for the walking tour is Alan (photo by Roger Johnson)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
Alan prepares his group for the trek around Bow Street, Drury Lane and Covent Garden (photo by Roger Johnson)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
On the other side of Bow Street from Martlett Court is the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden (photo by Roger Johnson)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
The splendid classical frontage of the Royal Opera House faces the old Court House, now the NoMad Hotel (photo by Rakshita Patel)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
The entrance to the old Magistrates' Court is on the corner of Bow Street and Broad Court
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
On a wall in Broad Court, opposite the old Magistrates' Court, this plaque commemorates the Fielding brothers and other notables of the area (photo by Roger Johnson)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
Henry Fielding & John Fielding are celebrated in the name of this hotel on the corner of Broad Court and Crown Court (photo by Roger Johnson)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
Crown Court runs behind the former Court House and Police Station, so we pass Martlett Court on our way to Russell Street (photo by Roger Johnson)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
Emerging into Russell Street, we cross to the north-west side of the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane (photo by Roger Johnson)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
The handsome entrance of the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane is actually in Catherine Street. Drury Lane is at the back of the theatre (photo by Roger Johnson)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
In London, from the 17th to the 19th centuries, only the three Theatres Royal - Drury Lane, Covent Garden and Haymarket - were licensed to stage "spoken drama" (photo by Roger Johnson)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
From Catherine Street, we go by way of Russell Street to Covent Garden and the back of the Royal Opera House (photo by Roger Johnson)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
The then Theatre Royal, Covent Garden had to be rebuilt after a disastrous fire in 1809. The subsequent increase in prices sparked a series of riots lasting three months (photo by Roger Johnson)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
Satirical coins were minted for the OP (Old Price) Riots at Covent Garden (photo by Rakshita Patel)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
At first, the managers of the theatre called in the Bow Street Runners from across the road, but their attempts to quell the riots only made matters worse (photo by Roger Johnson)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
Eventually, the management of the Covent Garden Theatre had to give in to the rioters' demands and revert to the Old Prices (photo by Roger Johnson)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
And so we cross the street to visit Bow Street Police Museum (photo by Rakshita Patel)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
Inside the Museum, many of us are glad to sit down and relax for a few minutes after the walk. Others try to work out what that strange object is (photo by Roger Johnson)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
Replica of a Bow Street Runner's uniform (photo by Roger Johnson)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
The Bow Street Runners were well armed (photo by Rakshita Patel)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
The original dock from Court no. 2 (photo by Rakshita Patel)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
The view of Court no. 2 from the dock (photo courtesy of Rakshita Patel)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
Perhaps the most famous of the many who occupied the dock in Court no. 2 was Oscar Wilde, as depicted in this sketch from 'The Illustrated Police News'
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
Now we are in the courtroom with our guide Ciara (photo by Roger Johnson)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
The door of the courtroom, surmounted by the Royal Arms (photo by Heather Owen)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
Ciara relates some of the stories associated with this famous old courthouse (photo by Roger Johnson)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
Now serving as a function room of the NoMad Hotel, the old courtroom has been atmospherically decorated (photo by Roger Johnson)
Sherlock Holmes Society of London:
The atmosphere in the former courtroom is almost palpable (photo by Rakshita Patel)
