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Bloomsbury Square Gardens, July 2002. Photo: S Williams.
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Bloomsbury Square was laid out in the early 1660s on land then owned by the Earl of Southampton, but from 1723 became part of the Bedford Estate. The central garden originally had a cruciform layout. From 1800 the 5th Duke of Bedford began developing his estate, demolishing Bedford House to the north of Bloomsbury Square. He commissioned Humphry Repton to redesign Bloomsbury Square in c1806 and by the 1820s there was a large lawn with oval line of trees in the centre, perimeter shrubbery and walk, and an oval shrubbery in each corner. The layout changed at various times throughout the C20th but refurbishment carried out in 2006/7 reflected elements of Repton’s layout, and restored views and links to Russell Square. |
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| Previous / Other name: |
Southampton Square |
| Site location: |
Bloomsbury Square |
| Postcode: |
WC1A 2RJ |
| Type of site: |
Garden Square |
| Date(s): |
c1665; early C19th; C20th (mid & 1970s) |
| Designer(s): |
early C19th: Humphry Repton |
| Listed structures: |
LBII*: Nos. 5, 5A 6 Bloomsbury Square. LBII: Nos. 1, 2, 3; 9-13, 14, 17, 18-22; 23-27; 43, 44, 45, 46, 47 Bloomsbury Square; Statue of Charles James Fox |
| Borough: |
Camden |
| Site ownership: |
LB Camden (Bedford Estate, Commissioners of Bloomsbury Square) |
| Site management: |
Parks & Open Spaces; Friends of Bloomsbury Square |
| Open to public? |
Yes |
| Opening times: |
7.30am - dusk |
| Special conditions: |
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| Facilities: |
Children's playground |
| Events: |
Participates in Open Garden Squares Weekend |
| Public transport: |
Tube: Holborn (Piccadilly, Central). Bus: 1, 7, 8, 19, 25, 38, 55, 59, 68, 91, 98, 168, 188, 242 |
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