The square's gardens, now an open public park, originally consisted of private plots, each owned by a resident.

[2][3][4] A statue of Sir Robert Peel stands on one side of the central gardens opposite Cross Street, erected by public subscription in 1852.

[5] An Italian-style villa was built in 1850 on the south corner of Cross Street (number 11), which was later used as a County Court office from the 1940s.

Today it is home to mainly professional and religious service providers, including solicitors practices, a translation company, a Jesuit presbytery (taking up the majority of the northern buildings adjacent to St Wilfrids Church) as well as restaurants.

Alumni include television football pundit Mark Lawrenson[13][14] and head of the Royal Shakespeare Company, Gregory Doran.