Bloomsbury Square is a garden square in Bloomsbury, Camden, London.
The square was developed by 4th Earl of Southampton, in the late 17th century, and was initially known as Southampton Square. It was one of the earliest London squares. The Earl's own house, then known as Southampton House and later as Bedford House after the square and the rest of the Bloomsbury Estate passed by marriage from the Earls of Southampton to the Dukes of Bedford, occupied the whole of the north side of the square. The other sides were lined with typical terraced houses of the time, which were initially occupied by members of the aristocracy and gentry.
