Golden Square

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Sir Walter Besant, in The Fascination of London, published in 1903, continues his survey of St James' parish, Piccadilly, with this look at Golden Square:

The part of St James' parish lying to the east of Regent Street is quite uninteresting except for Golden Square, which has been well described by Hatton as "not exactly in anybody's way, to or from anywhere."

The square is mentioned in both "Humphrey Clinker" and "Nicholas Nickleby."

Here Henry St. John, Lord Bolingbroke, lived, 1704-1708, and Mrs. Cibber in 1746.

Angelica Kauffman lived in the centre house on the south side for many years.

It was in the vicinity of the square that the great burial-ground for the plague-stricken dead was formed in the reign of Charles II.

It was chosen as being well away from the town.

Pennant says: "Golden Square, of dirty access, was built after the Revolution or before 1700.

It was built by that true hero Lord Craven, who stayed in London during the whole time: and braved the fury of the pestilence with the same coolness as he fought the battles of his beloved mistress Elizabeth, Queen of Bohemia."

It was in Golden Square that De Quincey took leave of Ann, whom he was never to see again.

Next: Piccadilly Circus