Foundation stone, basement of Royal Opera House, London

The Foundation stone laid by the then Prince of Wales, is now to be seen only by descending into a basement washroom at the Royal Opera House. Anniversary Year For The Opera House; Covent Garden Is Both 100 and 150 Years old: the original opera house, built in 1732 by John Rich, burned down in 1808. After an interval of three months the Prince of Wales laid the foundation stone of the second theatre which still exists in the basement of the third opera house to be built in Covent Garden. The second house was itself burned down in March 1856 at the close of a masquerade ball, during the playing of the National Anthem. The present theatre was opened on May 15th, 1859 amid worldwide acclaim of its luxurious accommodation and facilities. thus, 1958 is the 150th birthday of the foundation stone laying of the second House and the 100th anniversary of the opening of the present one. gala performances are being arranged at which members of the royal family will, as they always have, lend the distinction of their presence. the third Opera house to stand on the site in Covent Garden, next to London's main fruit and vegetable market has a long and varied history which looked dangerously near ending when, during the war the theatre was leased as a dance hall. In 1944, the lease was taken over by Boosey and hawkes, the music Publishers, and the Covent Garden First was formed to make it the National Home of the Opera and ballet. the Covent Garden Opera Company was formed and gave its first performance in 1947. When the lease again expired, the Ministry of Works took a 41 year lease and the Trust was re-formed as the Royal opera house, Covent Garden Ltd. a non-profit making company. It is the intention of the administration of the theatre to keep it open throughout the year for opera and ballet. This policy has been followed and although finances have periodically given cause for worry, there is no question of the national home of opera being in danger of continuing its valuable contribution to national life

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