Leicester Square Garden (London)

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In 1630 Lord Leicester leased former commonland here to build Leicester House but was required to lay out public walks on the remaining part. Initially called Leicester Fields, the central areas were fenced and it was planted in c.1720-25. A statue of George I stood in the centre from 1748, but removed following vandalism in 1871 by which time Leicester Square was a less prestigious neighbourhood. In 1874 Albert Grant MP purchased and presented the newly laid out garden to the MBW, having erected a Shakespeare memorial fountain in the centre. In the C20th Leicester Square was progressively rebuilt, becoming the centre of the entertainment industry. The gardens inevitably suffered by heavy use, and were re-landscaped in c.1993, when the statues and fountain were restored although a prominent theatre ticket booth was erected. Since 2008, Leicester Square has been re-landscaped, re-opening in May 2012 in time for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.
www.londongardensonline.org.uk/gardens-online-record.ph...