Soho Square
By Tim Devitt
Soho Square was laid out in the 1680s on land known as Soho Fields, which was granted by King Charles II for development. For this reason its original name was King Square and Charles’s statue is still to be found in the centre of the square. It was initially a very fashionable address, including several fine houses such as Monmouth House, Carlisle House and Falconberg House. Over the centuries there has been much redevelopment of the buildings around the square, a process which is continuing with the construction of a new Crossrail station.