Mecklenburgh Square

Mecklenburgh Square
TypeSquare
LocationBloomsbury, London, UK
Coordinates51°31′30″N 0°07′02″W / 51.52499°N 0.1173°W / 51.52499; -0.1173
Built1804-1825
ArchitectJoseph Kay, Eastern side
Architectural style(s)Georgian
Governing bodyPrivately owned
Official nameCoram’s Fields with Mecklenburgh and Brunswick Squares
Designated1 October 1987
Reference no.1000212
Mecklenburgh Square is located in Greater London
Mecklenburgh Square
Location of Mecklenburgh Square in Greater London

Mecklenburgh Square is a Grade II listed square in Bloomsbury, London. The square and its garden were part of the Foundling Estate, a residential development of 1792–1825 on fields surrounding and owned by the Foundling Hospital. The square was named in honour of King George III's queen, Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. It was begun in 1804, but was not completed until 1825.[1]

The area is renowned for its collection of well-preserved terraced houses that directly overlook the square and Mecklenburgh Square Garden.[2] The garden itself is accessible only to residents holding a key, except during special occasions like the Open Garden Squares Weekend when it is open to all visitors.[3][4]

The garden was laid out between 1809 and 1810 as the centrepiece of the newly developed Mecklenburgh Square; buildings on the eastern side were designed by architect Joseph Kay. The 2 acres (8,100 m2) garden is made up of formal lawns, gravel paths, mature plane trees and other ornamental trees. It contains a children's playground, and a tennis court. The east side of the garden is planted with plants native to New Zealand.[5]

To the west is Coram's Fields, and to the east is Gray's Inn Road, a major local thoroughfare. Goodenough College is a postgraduate residence and educational trust on the north and south sides of the square, and operates an academic-oriented hotel on the east side.[6] Russell Square tube station is located to the south-west of the square, and the railway termini King's Cross and St Pancras are a short walk north.[7]

Mecklenburgh Square, Brunswick Square and Coram's Fields are jointly listed Grade II on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens.[8]

  1. ^ "A Georgian Square", Mecklenburgh Square Garden website.
  2. ^ Mecklenburgh Square Garden
  3. ^ "About", Mecklenburgh Square Garden website.
  4. ^ "Mecklenburgh Square WC1". Archived from the original on 13 September 2016. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  5. ^ "Patterson Border", Mecklenburgh Square Garden website.
  6. ^ "The Goodenough". Goodenough College. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  7. ^ "Mecklenburgh Square - Nearest stations". LondonTown.com. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  8. ^ Historic England, "Coram's Fields, and Brunswick and Mecklenburgh Squares (1000212)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 12 November 2017