Soho Square

Soho Square was laid out in the early 1600's on part of the land known as Soho Fields. The first residents moved in during 1683 and the square was fully occupied by 1691., Its initial status as one of London's most fashionable addresses confirmed in a description of 1720 which notes that the square "hath very good buildings on all Sides, especially the East and South, which are well inhabited by Nobility and Gentry". Indeed much of the South side was taken up by Monmouth House, intended for Charles's illegitimate son the Duke of Monmouth, but his exile and execution made for a very short stay., In the eighth century the diplomatic representatives of Venice, Spain, Naples, Sweden, France and Russia at various times occupied properties in the squire, the later two choosing Monmouth House., In 1760 Carlisle House, which stood on part of the site of Saint Patrick's Church, was taken by Theresa Cornelys, one of Soho's most colourful characters. Born in Venice, mistress of Casanova she was London's High Society for nearly years with series of lavish masquerades, concerts and promenades., By the 1770's the fashionable world was moving west to newly developed Mayfair and soon lawyers, architects and medical men were taking an increasing number of houses. The process continued in the early 1800's when commercial and office uses began to develop., The Soho Bazaar was opened at Nos. 46, to serve the “Female and Domestic Industry”. Merchandise consisted of millinery, gloves, lace, jewellery and potted plants, which were sold there until 1889., Crosse and Blackwell's move to the square in 1840 signed the beginning of the end of the square's residential character and the rise in popularity of property let as offices., Small hospitals became established in the second half of last century with the Frith Street Hospital for Women (closed in 1989), and opposite at No. 32 two hospitals specialising in dental and cardiac care., Soho's cosmopolitan character is reflected in the square's two churches both built 1891-93. Sir Aston Webb's French Protestant Church is a reminder of the time when nearly half Soho's population was Huguenot, while St Patrick's has served the areas Irish and Italian communities., The most significant development this century has been the construction of high office blocks which have raised the skyline. The trend began at No. 20 where a large house extensively remodelled by Robert Adam was replaced 1924., Today relatively little of the original layout remains intact in the square. The best preserved property is the House of St. Barnabas at No. 1 Greek Street. Built in the 1740's it has exceptional interiors. Of the seventeenth century houses only Nos 10 and 15 Soho Square survive.