The Picture of London, for 1803
Known, at various times, as the Queen’s, King’s, Her Majesty’s, His Majesty’s, or the Opera, the site was a longstanding London location for theatrical entertainment. In the Regency, the Season was not complete without a visit to the opera. Nash and Repton would change up the building and façade, including an arcade, in 1816.
Purported (at least in the 1820s) to be the largest theatre in England, its interiors were oft described as magnificent, splendid and detailed. High ceilings, dramatic scale, and a liberal application of gilt must have made the whole place magical by candlelight. Here is a description of the boxes, pits and events from Historical and Descriptive Accounts of the Theatres of London (1826):
For a detailed history: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-london/vols29-30/pt1/pp223-250
For layouts and architectural drawings of the Opera House through the centuries: http://www.theatre-architecture.eu/db.html?personId=1883&theatreId=695
