Camden in Greater London, England, United Kingdom — Northwestern Europe (the British Isles)
Bloomsbury Square Gardens
— London Borough of Camden —
Photographed By Michael Herrick, July 29, 2018
1. Bloomsbury Square Gardens Marker
Inscription.
Bloomsbury Square Gardens. .
Restoration of Bloomsbury Square. Originally known as Southampton Square Bloomsbury Square was one of London's first designed garden squares. It was initially laid out during the middle of the 17th Century, after Lord Southampton built Southampton House, a large mansion with the square as its forecourt. In 1669 the Dukes of Bedford acquired the square through the marriage of the daughter of Lord Southampton and, by the 1730s, the name Bloomsbury Square was firmly established. Illustrations from the early 18th Century show the square as a simple rectangular grass space crossed by cruciform and diagonal paths. In 1806-07 a design by Humphry Repton, England's foremost landscape architect of the time, was laid out with deciduous shrub planting to the perimeter, a circle of lime trees at the centre, shaded walks and oval planting beds to each corner. Repton also designed Russell Square in 1801 which is linked to Bloomsbury Square by the formal axis of Bedford Place. A statue of statesman Charles James Fox (1749-1806) stands on the north side of Bloomsbury Square, providing a focal point on this axis, whilst also facing the statue of the fifth Duke of Bedford, which stands in Russell Square. Both statues were designed by the English neoclassical sculptor Sir Richard Westmacott (1775-1856). Prior to World War II the square was enclosed b iron railings and access was only for the surrounding residents. During the war the railings were removed as part of the war effort to be melted down for munitions and the public were able to access the square for the first time. In 1950 public access was formalised when the square was officially opened to the public. During the 1970s an underground car park was built beneath the square and a new landscape scheme was implemented radically modifying the layout of the gardens and resulting in further loss of Humphry Repton's scheme. The restoration of Bloomsbury Square Gardens has included elements of Repton's design along with the incorporation of the 17th century cruciform path layout as shown in the 18th century illustrations. Much of the planting follows Regency horticultural principles with colourful flowerbeds containing an informal mixture of shrubs and herbaceous plants. Whilst features of the Square's past have been reinstated, a new play area and site furniture ensure that the needs of 21st century users are met.
Restoration of Bloomsbury Square
Originally known as Southampton Square Bloomsbury Square was one of London's first designed garden squares. It was initially laid out during the middle of the 17th Century, after Lord Southampton built Southampton House, a large mansion with the square as its forecourt. In 1669 the Dukes of Bedford acquired the square through the marriage of the daughter of Lord Southampton and, by the 1730s, the name Bloomsbury Square was firmly established.
Illustrations from the early 18th Century show the square as a simple rectangular grass space crossed by cruciform and diagonal paths. In 1806-07 a design by Humphry Repton, England's foremost landscape architect of the time, was laid out with deciduous shrub planting to the perimeter, a circle of lime trees at the centre, shaded walks and oval planting beds to each corner. Repton also designed Russell Square in 1801 which is linked to Bloomsbury Square by the formal axis of Bedford Place. A statue of statesman Charles James Fox (1749-1806) stands on the north side of Bloomsbury Square, providing a focal point on this axis, whilst also facing the statue of the fifth Duke of Bedford, which stands in Russell Square. Both statues were designed by the English neoclassical sculptor Sir Richard Westmacott (1775-1856).
Prior to World War II
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the square was enclosed b iron railings and access was only for the surrounding residents. During the war the railings were removed as part of the war effort to be melted down for munitions and the public were able to access the square for the first time. In 1950 public access was formalised when the square was officially opened to the public. During the 1970s an underground car park was built beneath the square and a new landscape scheme was implemented radically modifying the layout of the gardens and resulting in further loss of Humphry Repton's scheme.
The restoration of Bloomsbury Square Gardens has included elements of Repton's design along with the incorporation of the 17th century cruciform path layout as shown in the 18th century illustrations. Much of the planting follows Regency horticultural principles with colourful flowerbeds containing an informal mixture of shrubs and herbaceous plants. Whilst features of the Square's past have been reinstated, a new play area and site furniture ensure that the needs of 21st century users are met.
Location. 51° 31.172′ N, 0° 7.376′ W. Marker is in Camden, England, in Greater London. Marker is at the intersection of Bloomsbury Square and Bloomsbury Place
Photographed By Michael Herrick, July 29, 2018
2. Bloomsbury Square Gardens Marker
, on the left when traveling north on Bloomsbury Square. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Camden, England WC1A 2NS, United Kingdom. Touch for directions.
Also see . . . Bloomsbury Square on Wikipedia. (Submitted on August 17, 2018, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)
Photographed By Michael Herrick, July 29, 2018
3. The statue of Charles James Fox on the north side of Bloomsbury Square
Credits. This page was last revised on January 27, 2022. It was originally submitted on August 17, 2018, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut. This page has been viewed 166 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on August 17, 2018, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.
