Restoration complete at Bedford Square
One of central London’s historic Georgian squares has had its former beauty and historical value restored, following the completion of an extensive street improvement project in November.
Camden Council carried out the work to improve Bedford Square’s street layout, pavements and lighting as well as restoring its original geometrical design. The project cost £740,000, funded by the council, English Heritage, The Bedford Estates and The Crown Estate.
Bedford Square is a unique garden square in the heart of Bloomsbury, surrounded by buildings whose facades have been carefully maintained in their original Georgian style. But the original design was changed by a 1970s road system in which the pavements were built out with concrete, and the square’s streets also needed repairing.
The improvements carried out in Bedford Square 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 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 in the square 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.
Cllr Mike Greene, Executive Member for Environment, Camden Council said:
“These major improvements to Bedford Square have restored its historic geometry and features, in keeping with its stylish Georgian setting. Residents, workers and visitors will be able to enjoy and appreciate a much more attractive street environment.”
Philip Davies, Planning & Development Director (South) at English Heritage said:
"The restoration of Bedford Square is the culmination of 10 years of effort by English Heritage to reinstate the layout of London’s finest Georgian square. It forms part of a wider strategy to improve the neglected squares of Bloomsbury through our Campaign for London Squares, which has been instrumental in transforming the environment of key parts of London. English Heritage looks forward to continuing to work in partnership with Camden Council and other partners to secure similar improvements for Lincoln’s Inn Fields and Fitzroy Square."
Mark de Rivaz, Steward of The Bedford Estates, said:
“It has been a long-held ambition of the Estates to see this restoration project brought to fruition and we are delighted to have been able to play our part in doing this, in partnership with the other stakeholders. Bedford Square can now truly hold its head high as the finest Georgian square in London.”
Charles Gardner, Head of Office Portfolio at The Crown Estate, said:
“We are pleased to have been involved in the project to restore this historic Georgian square to its original design. Bedford Square is once again a very pleasant open space in the heart of London.”
Bedford Square is in the Bloomsbury district of the London Borough of Camden in London. It was designed and built by Thomas Leverton between 1775 and 1783 as an upper middle class residential area, and 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. The square takes its name from the main title of the Russell family, the Dukes of Bedford, who were the main landlords in Bloomsbury.
Bedford Square is one of the best preserved set pieces of Georgian architecture in London, but most of the houses have now been converted into offices. Numbers 1-10,11, 12-27, 28-38 and 40-54 are Grade I listed buildings. The central garden remains private.
