Fitzrovia – the home of SGI

Situated in the north east corner of Fitzrovia, and only about an 8 minute walk from SGI in Margaret Street, Fitzroy Square is a truly magnificent Georgian Square that is well worth a visit.

This famous square takes its name from the original owner of the land, Charles Fitzroy, who commissioned the distinguished architect Robert Adam to provide designs for a handsome new square that would attract aristocrat families to live there. Work commenced in 1794 and was completed on two sides of the square in 1798. These buildings are fronted in the striking white Portland stone that can be found all over Central London.

As the square is largely for pedestrians only, it has a wonderful tranquil air when you enter it, a real oasis of green and calm, even though you are only ever a few minutes away from busy main roads.

Fitzrovia, as mentioned in previous articles, is famous for it’s artistic past and indeed Fitzroy Square has had its fair share of famous residents. These include the famous novelist Virginia Wolf, who lived at no 29. Another resident of no 29, but not at the same time as Virginia, was the playwright George Bernard Shaw, and a current resident of the square is the author Ian McEwan, who set much of his 2005 novel Saturday in the square.

A sculpture by Naomi Blake in Fitzroy Square Garden

Posted by Max Loach on Sep 30 2010. Filed under Fitzrovia. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry