Bloomsbury Square

The square was developed by the 4th Earl of Southampton in the late 17th century and was initially known as Southampton Square. This not only became the prototype of the London square but was also the first residential unit to be developed in conjunction with speculative builders. It was designed to be a complete, almost self-sufficient unit with accommodation provided for all sections of society, both rich and poor; ‘segregation, social and functional, took place between street and street, not between estate and estate.’ The Earl’s own house, then known as Southampton House and later as Bedford House after the square and the rest of the Bloomsbury Estate passed by marriage from the Earls of Southampton to the Dukes of Bedford, occupied the whole of the north side of the square. The other sides were lined with typical terraced houses of the time, which were initially occupied by members of the aristocracy and gentry. 

By the early 19th century, Bloomsbury was no longer fashionable with the upper classes. Consequently the Duke of Bedford of the day moved out of Bedford House which was demolished and replaced with further terraced houses. In the 19th century the square was occupied by middle class professionals. The writer Isaac D'Israeli lived at No.6 from 1817 to 1829 and for part of that time his son, the future Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli lived with him. In the 20th century most of the buildings came to be used as offices. 

Points of Interest  

Bloomsbury Square’s garden contains a bronze statue by Richard Westmacott of Charles James Fox, who was a Whig associate of the Dukes of Bedford. None of the original 17th century buildings survive, but there are many handsome 18th and early 19th century houses. The Royal Pharmaceutical Society was based in an 18th century building on the northern side of the square and is partly credited to John Nash. The eastern side of the square is occupied by a large early 20th century building called Victoria House which was on the short list to become London's city hall when the Greater London Authority was founded in 2000. 

An oval bas-relief at the centre showing Bedford House has a quotation by the 17th century diarist and garden designer, John Evelyn (1620-1706), who on February 9th 1665 made the following note in his diary: 'Dined at my Lord Treasurer's, the Earle of Southampton, in Blomesbury, where he was building a noble square or piazza, a little towne; his own house stands too low, some noble roomes, a pretty cedar chappell, a naked garden to the north, but good aire.'