 The Covent Garden estate was originally under the control of Westminster Abbey and lay in the parish of St Margaret . During a reorganisation in 1542 it was transferred to St Martin in the Fields , and then in 1645 a new parish was created , splitting governance of the estate between the parishes of St Paul Covent Garden and St Martin , both still within the Liberty of Westminster . St Paul Covent Garden was completely surrounded by the parish of St Martin in the Fields . It was grouped into the Strand District in 1855 when it came within the area of responsibility of the Metropolitan Board of Works . 
