6 Bloomsbury Square
Number 6 Bloomsbury Square was built in 1744, possibly by JI Devall in the Earl of Southampton’s ‘green square of Bloomsbury’, during the extensive development of the Bloomsbury area. It rapidly became one of the most fashionable residential areas in London, as the first ‘garden’ square.
By 1792, No. 6 Bloomsbury Square was occupied by Elbro Woodcock, late captain of Dragoons, who earlier had fought with the British forces in North America during the American War of Independence.
From 1817 to 1829, No. 6 was the home of Isaac D’Israeli (1776-1848), the well-known man of letters. Born a Jew, he was involved in a famous controversy with the local Jewish community and had his son Benjamin, who lived at No. 6 as a child, baptized. Benjamin D’Israeli went on to become one of the leading Prime Ministers of the Victorian period.
During the 1830’s, No. 6 Bloomsbury Square was occupied by a series of affluent widows, but in 1840 was acquired for medical purposes. In the 1830’s, there was a growing interest in the possibilities of orthopaedic surgery and in particular of the methods of the German surgeon Dr Stromeyer. William Little, a leading English specialist in this field, was encouraged to found a hospital where Stromeyer’s method could be put in to practise.
A provisional committee was formed, which looked for a suitable house. By 1 June 1840 they had arranged to purchase No 6 Bloomsbury Square, for the use of both outpatients and in-patients. This opened on 1 July as Britain’s first orthopaedic hospital. By September 1842, there were 11 in-patients and around 50 patients per outpatients’ session at this orthopaedic institution. This subsequently relocated, to become in time the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital.
Later in the 1840’s, No. 6 was acquired again for domestic purposes. It was purchased by two brothers – Charles and Arthur Aikin (1775-1847 and 1773-1854). Their aunt, Letitia Barbauld, a close friend of Dr Johnson, had brought them up. Both were passionately interested in science. Charles became a member of the Royal College of Surgeons, while Arthur was an author on scientific topics and a founder of the Geological Society.
By 1888, No. 6 Bloomsbury Square had passed into use as offices for the architect, Edward Prior (1852-1932), who was to be especially involved in architectural education, finally becoming State Professor of Fine Art at Cambridge.
No. 6 returned to domestic use at the turn of the century and was occupied by Henry Vivian, Liberal MP for Birkenhead. He had a particular interest in housing for the poor and founded Co-Partnership Tenants, which developed suitable housing estates in Birmingham and Manchester.
After Vivian’s death in 1930, No. 6 again reverted to use as offices. The Board of Deputies moved in in November 2001.