Thesis
The greening of Russell Square: Russell Square as a lens on the historical development of early nineteenth century London
Washington State University
Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
2009
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/102533
Abstract
Fashionable housing in London has moved inexorably to the West. This process started before the Great Fire of 1666 and did not end until the generation of the Sloane Rangers of Kensington in the twentieth century.1 This thesis will explore this westward march by concentrating on the building practices, building laws, and the planned green space of Russell Square. A mere handful of men owned the majority of the undeveloped land around London. The decisions of these landowners impacted the entire city structure, not just a single house or block. Chapter one will set the scene. Factors that motivated the Duke of Bedford to develop his land a certain way included the growth of London, the perceived need for green space, and the location of the property within greater London. Each of these will be discussed in terms of their impact on the physical changes made within the square. Chapter two will provide an overview of the history and development of the square, including a brief history of the Bedford Family. This section will also look at the builder, James Burton, and the landscape gardener, Humphry Repton, to explore their contributions to the construction and physical makeup of Russell Square. Chapter three examines Russell Square's development and compares it to three other areas of London. The first area is Belgrave Square. From the time of its construction in the 1820s, leading members of the British aristocracy occupied Belgrave Square. Looking at the differences between Belgrave and Russell Squares will determine exactly what attracted the aristocracy to a residential neighborhood. The second area is the Foundling Hospital estate. This area was adjacent to Russell Square to the east and attracted a much lower class of resident. This section will examine the importance of planning by landowners on the development of London. The final area is Bedford Square. The gardens of Russell Square were carefully planned and constructed. This was not the case for Bedford Square. Between 1776 and 1802, significant changes in the urban landscape occurred that caused the garden to become an important feature of an urban square.
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Details
- Title
- The greening of Russell Square
- Creators
- Lorelei Rose Sterling
- Contributors
- Heather Streets-Salter (Degree Supervisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- History, Department of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University; Pullman, Wash. :
- Identifiers
- 99900525178201842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis