Bedford Square After the Restoration
Bedford Square, the historic Georgian square in the heart of Bloomsbury, is set to have its former beauty and historical value restored by this spring. The improvement and restoration project was begun by Camden Council on 23 January 2006.
The Square, which takes its name from the main title of the Russell family, the Duke of Bedford, was designed and built by Thomas Leverton between 1775 and 1783 as an upper middle class residential area. It has had many distinguished residents, including Lord Eldon, one of Britain’s longest serving and most celebrated Lord Chancellors, who lived in the largest house in the Square for many years.
Many aspects of this famous square will be addressed. The street layout, pavements and lighting will all be improved and, most exciting, the original geometrical design will be restored. The project will cost £740,000, funded by the Council, English Heritage, The Bedford Estates and The Crown Estate – and is due to be completed in May.
This project is important not just for Bloomsbury but for all of London.
“Bedford Square is the only intact Georgian square surviving in London,” said Philip Davies, Planning & Development Director (South) at English Heritage.
“Sadly, in the 1970s, concrete build-outs severed the carefully composed relationship between the garden, the carriageways and the surrounding buildings, and the character of this nationally important set piece declined.”
The current improvements will include:
- Recreating the original geometric design of the Square by realigning the road so it runs parallel to the buildings.
- Adding a wide, bound-gravel area around the central garden, which can be used by pedestrians and will keep traffic speeds down
- Putting new seats, in keeping with the style of the Square, in this gravel area and re-arranging the ‘street furniture’ to allow more space on the footpaths and reduce the clutter caused by signs.
- Repaving the asphalt footpaths on the north, south and west sides of the Square with York stone, which is high quality paving, to make the street look more attractive
- Refurbishing and repainting the historic lamp columns whilst adding in contemporary white lighting. This will help improve safety and discourage drug dealing in the Square, a concern raised by residents and businesses.
- Providing additional parking spaces for disabled drivers, motorcycles and residents, and relocating parking for bicycles with new stands.
Local residents and businesses were consulted about the proposed changes at the end of 2005, with almost two-thirds of respondents in favour of the improvements and more than 70 per cent supporting the new parking arrangements.
Mark de Rivaz of The Bedford Estates said: "We are very pleased to be part of the effort to bring the original design back to Bedford Square. It is a unique space in Bloomsbury and we are delighted with the progress of the restoration works. Once restored, Bedford Square will enhance Bloomsbury and will be a wonderful place for visitors, local businesses and residents alike."
