Bedford Square

[1] The square takes its name from the main title of the Russell family, the Dukes of Bedford, who owned much of the land in what is now Bloomsbury.

11, which stands in Gower Street but has always been considered part of the square, had a separate building agreement of 1781 and was leased in June 1783.

[7] The delay in finishing the building of the square can be put down in part to the shortage of money during the American War of Independence.

Loans were granted by the trustees of the estate to the builders in order to finance building work from November 1777.

[14] The front door leads into an entrance hall which is flanked by two separate spaces, an anteroom to the right and the fine stone staircase to the left.

[17] The threat produced an article in Country Life that heralded the house as "a masterpiece of English architecture" and of "exceptional merit".

[17] 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.

Other squares on the Bedford Estate in Bloomsbury included: A number of houses have blue plaques recording famous residents: