'So 



NA TURE 



Bloomsbury and the University of London. 

 By T. Li.. Humberstone. 



[July 29, 1922 



BLOOMSBURY, originally Lomosbury, was in 

 ancient days a retired village, renowned for its 

 wholesome and pleasant air, situated with its manor 

 near the present Bloomsbury Square. The Royal 

 mews, established here, were burnt down in 1537, when 

 the hawks and steeds were removed to Charing Cross. 

 Two great houses were in the neighbourhood — 

 Montagu House, which became the British Museum, 

 and Southampton House, afterwards called Bedford 

 House, near the present Russell Square. To the north, 



was preserved by the ancient landladies, who still 

 cherished the belief that Great Ormonde Street was 

 the hub of the fashionable world. 



The British Museum forms the natural centre of the 

 district. Its establishment was due to a man of high 

 scientific attainments, Sir Hans Sloane, a physician, 

 who for a quarter of a century was president of the 

 College of Physicians. He accumulated at his house 

 in Chelsea a vast and varied collection of books and 

 manuscripts, objects of natural history, and works of 



\ 1: 

 F=Ins 



Ii seum. B = Founiu.ing Hospital. 



"i ( hemisi ry. G Royal Institi rs of 

 J=Site for Institute of Public Heai. 



Urofihoro Co. 



-. Russell Square. I> Bedforu Square. E=Wobur'n Square. 



Health. H=Torrikgtok Square. [ = Site for University of London. 

 K = University of London Union. L=Cavi - House. 



stretching towards Hampstead and Highgate, was 

 open country with irregular patches, frequented by 

 duellists, and the scene of robbery, murder, and every 

 form of depravity. 



Russell Square was built at the beginning of the 

 nineteenth century, and became the resort of " gentle- 

 men ol the long robe." In those days, or somewhat 

 earlier, Great Ormonde Street was a centre of fashion, 

 but in course of time the district lost caste, and it was 

 accounted a mark of high breeding not to know the 

 locality. Croker inquired in the House of Commons, 

 " Where is Russell Square ? " It is recorded, however, 

 that the dignity of this once patrician quarter of London 



NO. 2752, VOL. I io] 



art, which he directed by his will should be offered to 

 the nation on favourable terms. After his death, in 

 1753, an Act of Parliament was passed approving the 

 acquisition of the collection, together with the Harleian 

 Library of Manuscripts and the Cottonian Library ; 

 and to house the collections the Government purchased 

 Montagu House, raising for this purpose, by means of 

 a lottery, the sum of ioo,oooZ., of which 20,000/. was 

 used for the purchase of the Sloane Collection. The 

 museum was opened in 1759, and ever since has been 

 available for " studious and curious persons," to quote 

 the official regulations. In its gardens were encamped, 

 in 1780, the troops who quelled the Gordon Riots. 



