Woburn Square, WC1H

Woburn Square is just north of the centre of Bloomsbury.

Brunswick Square, Bloomsbury.
Credit: Stephen McKay

This area was undeveloped and marshy land until the end of the eighteenth century before Woburn Square was built by James Sim and family in 1821–1828 and also known as Rothesay Square.

It was finally named after Woburn Abbey, the seat of the Dukes of Bedford.

Christ Church was built to a design by Lewis Vulliamy on the east side of the square in 1831–1833 as a chapel of ease to St George’s, Bloomsbury.

The Post Office directory for 1881 shows a respectable square, with residents including clergymen, a surgeon, and (at no. 11) Charles Critchett, friend and correspondent of the artist Whistler.

The whole Square was sold to London University by the Bedford estate and after the square was bombed in World War II, it was subsequently overwhelmed by the development of surrounding University buildings. A few original houses survive at nos 10–18.

Christ Church was demolished in 1974.

Main source:	UCL Bloomsbury Project
	Further citations and sources

NEARBY LOCATIONS OF NOTE

Fairyland During the period leading up to and during the First World War, 92 Tottenham Court Road was the location of a shooting range called Fairyland.

Fairyland

Russell Square Russell Square station, now on London’s Piccadilly Line, was opened by the Great Northern, Piccadilly and Brompton Railway on 15 December 1906.

Russell Square

Scala Theatre Scala Theatre was a theatre in London, sited on Charlotte Street, off Tottenham Court Road. The first theatre on the site opened in 1772, and was demolished in 1969, after being destroyed by fire.

Scala Theatre

The Horse Hospital Built as stabling for the sick horses of cabbies, The Horse Hospital is now a unique Grade II listed arts venue in Bloomsbury.

The Horse Hospital

NEARBY STREETS

Abbey Place, WC1H Abbey Place was in the centre of Bloomsbury, off what was originally the west side of Little Coram Street and directly behind the Russell Institution on Great Coram Street (Bloomsbury)

Abbey Place, WC1H

Alfred Mews, WC1E Alfred Mews is situated off Tottenham Court Road, running behind the gardens of North Crescent (Bloomsbury)

Alfred Mews, WC1E

Alfred Place, WC1E Alfred Place was built in 1806 by a Marylebone stonemason called John Waddilove who named it after his son Alfred (Bloomsbury)

Alfred Place, WC1E

Arthur Stanley House, W1T Arthur Stanley House is located on Tottenham Street (Fitzrovia)

Arthur Stanley House, W1T

Arthur Tattersall House, WC1E Arthur Tattersall House is a block on Gower Street (Bloomsbury)

Arthur Tattersall House, WC1E

Bedford Place, WC1B Bedford Place is one of the streets of London in the WC1B postal area (Bloomsbury)

Bedford Place, WC1B

Bedford Way, WC1H Bedford Way is one of the streets of London in the WC1H postal area (Bloomsbury)

Bedford Way, WC1H

Bentham House, WC1H Bentham House is sited on Endsleigh Gardens (Bloomsbury)

Bentham House, WC1H

Bentley House, NW1 Bentley House is a block on Euston Road (Euston Square)

Bentley House, NW1

Bernard Street, WC1N Bernard Street is one of the streets of London in the WC1N postal area (Bloomsbury)

Bernard Street, WC1N

Bird Street, W1T Bird Street is one of the streets of London in the W1T postal area (Fitzrovia)

Bird Street, W1T

Bloomsbury House, WC1B Bloomsbury House is a block on Bedford Square (Bloomsbury)

Bloomsbury House, WC1B

Bloomsbury Place, WC1B The name of Bloomsbury Place is derived from William Blemund (Holborn)

Bloomsbury Place, WC1B

Bloomsbury Square, WC1A The 4th Earl of Southampton was granted a building license for the construction of Bloomsbury Square in 1661 (Holborn)

Bloomsbury Square, WC1A

Bristol House, WC1B Residential block (Holborn)

Bristol House, WC1B

Bromley Place, W1T Bromley Place is one of the streets of London in the W1T postal area (Fitzrovia)

Bromley Place, W1T

Brook House, WC1E Brook House is a block on Torrington Place (Bloomsbury)

Brook House, WC1E

Brunswick Shopping Centre, WC1N Brunswick Shopping Centre is one of the streets of London in the WC1N postal area (Bloomsbury)

Brunswick Shopping Centre, WC1N

Brunswick Square, WC1N Brunswick Square is the result of a sale of land by the Foundling Hospital (Bloomsbury)

Brunswick Square, WC1N

Burton Street, WC1H Burton Street is one of the streets of London in the WC1H postal area (Bloomsbury)

Burton Street, WC1H

Byng Place, WC1E Byng Place is a road in the WC1E postcode area (Bloomsbury)

Byng Place, WC1E

Cambria House, WC1H Cambria House is a block on Tavistock Place (Bloomsbury)

Cambria House, WC1H

Capper Street, WC1E Capper Street was named after the Capper farmer, tenant farmers on this land in the 17th and 18th centuries (Bloomsbury)

Capper Street, WC1E

Cartwright Gardens, WC1N Cartwright Gardens is a crescent-shaped park and street located in Bloomsbury (Bloomsbury)

Cartwright Gardens, WC1N

Central House, WC1H Central House can be found on Upper Woburn Place (Bloomsbury)

Central House, WC1H

Chandler House, WC1N Chandler House is a block on Wakefield Street (Bloomsbury)

Chandler House, WC1N

Charlotte Mews, W1T Charlotte Mews is one of the streets of London in the W1T postal area (Fitzrovia)

Charlotte Mews, W1T

Charlotte Street, W1T Charlotte Street was laid out in the mid 18th century on open fields (Fitzrovia)

Charlotte Street, W1T

Chenies Mews, WC1E Chenies Mews is a road in the WC1E postcode area (Bloomsbury)

Chenies Mews, WC1E

Chenies Street, WC1E Chenies Street takes its name from the Buckinghamshire village where since 1556 members of the Russell family have been buried. (Bloomsbury)

Chenies Street, WC1E

Chitty Street, W1T Chitty Street runs between Charlotte Street and Whitfield Street (Fitzrovia)

Chitty Street, W1T

Clare Court, WC1H Clare Court is a block on Judd Street (Bloomsbury)

Clare Court, WC1H

Coach Road, W1T Coach Road is a road in the NW1 postcode area (Bloomsbury)

Coach Road, W1T

Colonnade, WC1N Colonnade is one of the streets of London in the WC1N postal area (Bloomsbury)

Colonnade, WC1N

Colville Place, W1T Colville Place is one of the streets of London in the W1T postal area (Tottenham Court Road)

Colville Place, W1T

Compton Place, WC1H Compton Place is a road in the WC1H postcode area (Bloomsbury)

Compton Place, WC1H

Coram Street, WC1N Coram Street is one of the streets of London in the WC1N postal area (Bloomsbury)

Coram Street, WC1N

Cosmo Place, WC1B Cosmo Place is a road in the WC1B postcode area (Bloomsbury)

Cosmo Place, WC1B

Darwin Walk, WC1E Darwin Walk is a road in the WC1E postcode area (Bloomsbury)

Darwin Walk, WC1E

Drayton House, WC1H Drayton House is sited on Gordon Street (Euston Square)

Drayton House, WC1H

Egmont House, WC1H Egmont House is a block on Tavistock Place (Bloomsbury)

Egmont House, WC1H

Elisa Court, W1T Elisa Court is a block on Chitty Street (Fitzrovia)

Elisa Court, W1T

Endsleigh Gardens, WC1H Endsleigh Gardens is one of the streets of London in the WC1H postal area (Bloomsbury)

Endsleigh Gardens, WC1H

Endsleigh Place, WC1H Endsleigh Place is one of the streets of London in the WC1H postal area (Bloomsbury)

Endsleigh Place, WC1H

Endsleigh Street, WC1H Endsleigh Street is one of the streets of London in the WC1H postal area (Bloomsbury)

Endsleigh Street, WC1H

Euston Road, NW1 Euston Road runs from Marylebone Road to King's Cross. The road is part of the London Inner Ring Road and forms part of the London congestion charge zone boundary (Euston Square)

Euston Road, NW1

Euston Street, NW1 Euston Street is a street in Camden Town (Euston Square)

Euston Street, NW1

Faber Building, WC1H Faber Building is a block on Russell Square (Russell Square)

Faber Building, WC1H

First Floor, W1T First Floor is one of the streets of London in the W1T postal area (Fitzrovia)

First Floor, W1T

Foundling Court, WC1N Foundling Court is sited on Marchmont Street (Bloomsbury)

Foundling Court, WC1N

Gideon Schreier House, WC1H Gideon Schreier House is a block on Endsleigh Street (Bloomsbury)

Gideon Schreier House, WC1H

Goodge Place, W1T Goodge Place is one of the streets of London in the W1T postal area (Fitzrovia)

Goodge Place, W1T

Goodge Street, W1T Goodge Street was named after John Goodge a carpenter who along with his two nephews developed Crab Tree Fields to form Goodge Street in 1740 (Fitzrovia)

Goodge Street, W1T

Gordon Mansions, WC1E Gordon Mansions is one of the streets of London in the WC1E postal area (Bloomsbury)

Gordon Mansions, WC1E

Gordon Square, WC1H The completion of Thomas Cubitt’s Gordon Square in 1860 marked the final development of Bloomsbury (Bloomsbury)

Gordon Square, WC1H

Gordon Street, WC1H Gordon Street is one of the streets of London in the WC1H postal area (Bloomsbury)

Gordon Street, WC1H

Gower Court, WC1E Gower Court is a road in the WC1E postcode area (Bloomsbury)

Gower Court, WC1E

Gower Place, WC1E Gower Place runs from Gordon Street to Gower Street (Bloomsbury)

Gower Place, WC1E

Gower Street, WC1E Gower Street is named after Gertrude Leveson-Gower, the wife of John Russell, the 4th Duke of Bedford (Bloomsbury)

Gower Street, WC1E

Grafton Way, WC1E Grafton Way was formerly Grafton Street (Bloomsbury)

Grafton Way, WC1E

Grenville Street, WC1N Grenville Street is one of the streets of London in the WC1N postal area (Bloomsbury)

Grenville Street, WC1N

Guilford Street, WC1B Guilford Street is a road in the WC1B postcode area (Bloomsbury)

Guilford Street, WC1B

Handel Street, WC1N Handel Street is one of the streets of London in the WC1N postal area (Bloomsbury)

Handel Street, WC1N

Henrietta Mews, WC1N Henrietta Mews is one of the streets of London in the WC1N postal area (Bloomsbury)

Henrietta Mews, WC1N

Herbrand Street, WC1N Herbrand Street is in the east of Bloomsbury, running south from Tavistock Place to Guilford Street (Bloomsbury)

Herbrand Street, WC1N

Howland Street, W1T Howland Street is one of the streets of London in the W1T postal area (Fitzrovia)

Howland Street, W1T

Hunter House, WC1N Hunter House can be found on Hunter Street (Bloomsbury)

Hunter House, WC1N

Hunter Street, WC1N Hunter Street is one of the streets of London in the WC1N postal area (Bloomsbury)

Hunter Street, WC1N

Huntley Street, WC1E Huntley Street is one of the streets of London in the WC1E postal area (Bloomsbury)

Huntley Street, WC1E

Jenner House, WC1N Residential block (Bloomsbury)

Jenner House, WC1N

Kenton Street, WC1H Kenton Street is one of the streets of London in the WC1N postal area (Bloomsbury)

Kenton Street, WC1H

Keppel Street, WC1E Keppel Street links Store Street and Gower Street in the west to Malet Street in the east (Bloomsbury)

Keppel Street, WC1E

Kingsgate Est, WC1B A street within the WC1B postcode (Bloomsbury)

Kingsgate Est, WC1B

Kirkman House, W1T Kirkman House is a building on Whitfield Street (Tottenham Court Road)

Kirkman House, W1T

Knollys House, WC1H Knollys House is a block on Tavistock Place (Bloomsbury)

Knollys House, WC1H

Lamp Office Court, WC1N Lamp Office Court is one of the streets of London in the WC1N postal area (Bloomsbury)

Lamp Office Court, WC1N

Leigh Street, WC1H Leigh Street is one of the streets of London in the WC1H postal area (Bloomsbury)

Leigh Street, WC1H

Leverton House, WC1B Leverton House is a block on Bedford Square (Bloomsbury)

Leverton House, WC1B

Little Guildford Street, WC1N Little Guildford Street was the middle part of what is now Herbrand Street, between Great Coram Street and Bernard Street, on the western edge of the Foundling estate (Bloomsbury)

Little Guildford Street, WC1N

Lynton House, WC1H Lynton House is a block on Tavistock Square (Bloomsbury)

Lynton House, WC1H

Malet Place, WC1E Malet Place is a road in the WC1E postcode area (Bloomsbury)

Malet Place, WC1E

Malet Street, WC1E Sir Edward Malet was married to Lady Ermyntrude Sackville Russell, daughter of Francis Russell who owned much of the surrounding area (Bloomsbury)

Malet Street, WC1E

Marchmont Street, WC1N Marchmont Street is one of the streets of London in the WC1N postal area (Bloomsbury)

Marchmont Street, WC1N

Mary Ward House, WC1H Mary Ward House is a block on Tavistock Place (Bloomsbury)

Mary Ward House, WC1H

Maxclif House, W1T Maxclif House is a block on Tottenham Street (Tottenham Court Road)

Maxclif House, W1T

Medway Court, WC1H Medway Court can be found on Leigh Street (Bloomsbury)

Medway Court, WC1H

Melton Street, NW1 Melton Street is a street in Camden Town (Euston Square)

Melton Street, NW1

Midford Place, W1T Midford Place is one of the streets of London in the W1T postal area (Tottenham Court Road)

Midford Place, W1T

Minerva House, WC1E Minerva House is a block on North Crescent (Bloomsbury)

Minerva House, WC1E

Montague Place, WC1E Montague Place was developed in the decade after 1800 (Russell Square)

Montague Place, WC1E

Montague Street, WC1B Montague Street is one of the streets of London in the WC1B postal area (Bloomsbury)

Montague Street, WC1B

Mortimer Market, WC1E Mortimer Market is a road in the W1T postcode area (Bloomsbury)

Mortimer Market, WC1E

Mottram House, W1T Mottram House is located on Whitfield Street (Tottenham Court Road)

Mottram House, W1T

Network Building, W1T Network Building is a block on Tottenham Court Road (Tottenham Court Road)

Network Building, W1T

Nicolas Cooper House, WC1E Nicolas Cooper House is a block on Chenies Street (Bloomsbury)

Nicolas Cooper House, WC1E

North Crescent, WC1E North Crescent is one of the streets of London in the WC1E postal area (Bloomsbury)

North Crescent, WC1E

North Gower Street, NW1 North Gower Street is a street in Camden Town (Euston Square)

North Gower Street, NW1

Odonnell Court, WC1N Odonnell Court is one of the streets of London in the WC1N postal area (Bloomsbury)

Odonnell Court, WC1N

Old Glocester Street, WC1N Old Glocester Street is one of the streets of London in the WC1N postal area (Bloomsbury)

Old Glocester Street, WC1N

Old Glouster Street, WC1N Old Glouster Street is one of the streets of London in the WC1N postal area (Bloomsbury)

Old Glouster Street, WC1N

Paul O’Gorman Building, WC1E Paul O’Gorman Building is a building on Huntley Street (Bloomsbury)

Paul O’Gorman Building, WC1E

Peabody Buildings, WC1N Peabody Buildings is one of the streets of London in the WC1N postal area (Bloomsbury)

Peabody Buildings, WC1N

Phillips House, W1T Phillips House is a block on Goodge Street (Fitzrovia)

Phillips House, W1T

Prankerd House, NW1 Prankerd House is a block on North Gower Street (Euston Square)

Prankerd House, NW1

Quantum House, NW1 Quantum House is a block on Euston Street (Euston Square)

Quantum House, NW1

Queen Annes Square, WC1N Queen Annes Square is a road in the SE1 postcode area (Bloomsbury)

Queen Annes Square, WC1N

Queen Square, WC1N Queen Square was laid out by speculator Nicholas Barbon (Bloomsbury)

Queen Square, WC1N

Queen’s Yard, W1T Queen’s Yard is a road in the W1T postcode area (Bloomsbury)

Queen’s Yard, W1T

Regnart Buildings, NW1 Regnart Buildings may date from the 1810s decade (Euston Square)

Regnart Buildings, NW1

Ridgmount Gardens, WC1E Ridgmount Gardens is one of the streets of London in the WC1E postal area (Bloomsbury)

Ridgmount Gardens, WC1E

Ridgmount Street, WC1E Ridgmount Street is one of the streets of London in the WC1E postal area (Bloomsbury)

Ridgmount Street, WC1E

Roberts Engineering Building, WC1E Roberts Engineering Building is sited on Torrington Place (Bloomsbury)

Roberts Engineering Building, WC1E

Russell Court, WC1B Russell Court is one of the streets of London in the WC1H postal area (Bloomsbury)

Russell Court, WC1B

Russell Square House, WC1B Residential block (Russell Square)

Russell Square House, WC1B

Russell Square, WC1B Russell Square was laid out from 1800 by James Burton following the demolition of Bedford House, which originally stood on the site surrounded by gardens and fields (Russell Square)

Russell Square, WC1B

Salt Yard, W1T A street within the W1T postcode (Fitzrovia)

Salt Yard, W1T

Sandwich Street, WC1H Sandwich Street is one of the streets of London in the WC1H postal area (Bloomsbury)

Sandwich Street, WC1H

Scala Street, W1T Scala Street is named after the Scala theatre which formerly stood here (Goodge Street)

Scala Street, W1T

Shropshire House, WC1E Shropshire House is a block on Capper Street (Bloomsbury)

Shropshire House, WC1E

South Cloisters, WC1H South Cloisters is a road in the WC1H postcode area (Bloomsbury)

South Cloisters, WC1H

Southampton Row, WC1B Southampton Row is one of the streets of London in the WC1B postal area (Holborn)

Southampton Row, WC1B

St. Georges Road, WC1H A street within the WC1H postcode (Bloomsbury)

St. Georges Road, WC1H

Stephenson Way, NW1 Stephenson Way is a street in Camden Town (Euston Square)

Stephenson Way, NW1

Stewart House, WC1B Stewart House can be found on Russell Square (Russell Square)

Stewart House, WC1B

Store Street, WC1E Store Street is one of the streets of London in the WC1E postal area (Bloomsbury)

Store Street, WC1E

Tailor House, WC1N Tailor House is a block on Colonnade (Bloomsbury)

Tailor House, WC1N

Tavistock House North, WC1H Tavistock House North is one of the streets of London in the WC1H postal area (Bloomsbury)

Tavistock House North, WC1H

Tavistock House South, WC1H Tavistock House South is one of the streets of London in the WC1H postal area (Bloomsbury)

Tavistock House South, WC1H

Tavistock House, WC1H Residential block (Bloomsbury)

Tavistock House, WC1H

Tavistock Place, WC1H Tavistock Place is one of the streets of London in the WC1H postal area (Bloomsbury)

Tavistock Place, WC1H

Tavistock Square, WC1H Tavistock Square was built by property developer James Burton and the master builder Thomas Cubitt for Francis Russell, 5th Duke of Bedford (Bloomsbury)

Tavistock Square, WC1H

Taviton Street, WC1H Taviton Street is one of the streets of London in the WC1H postal area (Bloomsbury)

Taviton Street, WC1H

The Cruciform Building, WC1E The Cruciform Building is a block on Gower Street (Bloomsbury)

The Cruciform Building, WC1E

The Wellcome Building, NW1 The Wellcome Building is a block on Euston Road (Bloomsbury)

The Wellcome Building, NW1

Third Floor, WC1E Third Floor is one of the streets of London in the WC1E postal area (Bloomsbury)

Third Floor, WC1E

Thornhaugh Street, WC1B Thornhaugh Street is a street in London (Russell Square)

Thornhaugh Street, WC1B

Tiger House, WC1H Tiger House is a block on Burton Street (Bloomsbury)

Tiger House, WC1H

Tolmers Square, NW1 Tolmers Square roughly covers the site of a reservoir of the New River Company (Euston Square)

Tolmers Square, NW1

Torrington Place, WC1E Torrington Place was developed by James Sim in partnership with his two sons (Bloomsbury)

Torrington Place, WC1E

Torrington Square, WC1H Torrington Square was originally laid out as part of the Bedford Estate development in 1821-25 (Bloomsbury)

Torrington Square, WC1H

Tottenham Court Road, W1T Tottenham Court Road is a major road running from the junction of Oxford Street and Charing Cross Road, north to Euston Road - a distance of about three-quarters of a mile (Tottenham Court Road)

Tottenham Court Road, W1T

Tottenham Mews, W1T Tottenham Mews is one of the streets of London in the W1T postal area (Fitzrovia)

Tottenham Mews, W1T

Tottenham Street, W1T Tottenham Street is so-named as it is a turning out of Tottenham Court Road (Fitzrovia)

Tottenham Street, W1T

University Street, WC1E University Street is one of the streets of London in the WC1E postal area (Bloomsbury)

University Street, WC1E

Upper Woburn Place, WC1H Woburn Abbey was the duke of Bedford’s primary estate - they were the most significant property owners in the vicinity (Bloomsbury)

Upper Woburn Place, WC1H

Victoria House, WC1B Victoria House is a block on Southampton Row (Holborn)

Victoria House, WC1B

Wakefield Mews, WC1H Wakefield Mews derives ultimately from a former local pub: ’The Pindar of Wakefield’. (Bloomsbury)

Wakefield Mews, WC1H

Wakefield Street, WC1N Wakefield Street - after a former local pub, ’The Pindar of Wakefield’ (Bloomsbury)

Wakefield Street, WC1N

Witley Court, WC1H Witley Court is one of the streets of London in the WC1N postal area (Bloomsbury)

Witley Court, WC1H

Woburn House, WC1H Woburn House is a block on Tavistock Square (Bloomsbury)

Woburn House, WC1H

Woburn Mews, WC1H Woburn Mews ran parallel between Woburn Place and Upper Bedford Place to the west of Woburn Place (Bloomsbury)

Woburn Mews, WC1H

Woburn Place, WC1H Woburn Place is situated on the Bedford estate, running north from the east of Russell Square to the east of Tavistock Square (Bloomsbury)

Woburn Place, WC1H

Woburn Square, WC1H Woburn Square is just north of the centre of Bloomsbury (Bloomsbury)

Woburn Square, WC1H

Woburn Walk, WC1H Woburn Walk was also known as Woburn Buildings (Bloomsbury)

Woburn Walk, WC1H

Woolf Mews, WC1H Woolf Mews is a road in the WC1H postcode area (Bloomsbury)

Woolf Mews, WC1H

Yeomanry House, WC1N Yeomanry House is a building on Handel Street (Bloomsbury)

Yeomanry House, WC1N

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