London Historic Districts Resources
Soho, its History and Architecture in the Survey of London
Jul 17, 2009
The Survey of London is one of those secondary sources that comprise an essential historical resource for a variety of researchers ranging from social historians to architects. It is part of the Research Department of the English Heritage and consists of 45 volumes to-date (excluding the monographs), each examining a particular area or parish of London and detailing its buildings in all their historical associations.
Soho, its Description in the Survey of London
Volumes 33 and 34 of the Survey of London, published in 1966, describe the parish of St. Anne Soho, or simply Soho, as it is known today, a London historic district, in fact the “most famous of London’s cosmopolitan quarters” and part of London’s famous West End theatre land. Built in the late 17thC, Soho includes Soho Square, Leicester Square and part of Cambridge Circus and lies within the area defined by Oxford Street, Charing Cross Road and Wardour Street.
Origin of the Name of Soho
Soho is defined by the English Dictionary as an Anglo-French hunting call and sure enough there is evidence that hunting did indeed take place in the lands to the west of Wardour Street. The name Soho was used for the first time in 1636 as “a heading in a list of ratepayers in the parish of St. Martin in the Fields” and eventually came to denote a group of houses in the area.
Historic Buildings and Sites of Soho
The Survey of London is a valuable historical resource in that it provides extensive details on the history of buildings of the Soho area: residents, leases and uses of historic buildings (including demolished ones) since the day they were built, architectural descriptions of facades and interiors and descriptions of other sites and structures, such as gardens, statues and fountains.
The volumes of the Survey of London about the historic district of Soho are divided in chapters, each devoted to a particular street or area of Soho, namely: Soho Square, Dean Street, Frith and Bateman Street, Greek Street, Old Compton Street, Wardour Street area, Shaftesbury Avenue and Charing Cross Road, Gerrard Street.
Soho Square
Soho Square was in the early 17thC one of the most fashionable places of residence in London and home to many members of the aristocracy. By the 1770s most of the nobility moved to Mayfair and an increasing number of professionals started moving into Soho. In the 18thC the commercial element became more and more prominent in the area. Numbers 1 through to 83, Soho Square are described in this section of the Survey.
Frith Street, Soho
Today a main entertainment street of Soho, hosting among others the famous Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, it was first mentioned by this name in 1678. Residents in the 18thC and 19thC include many artists, among whom was included famous painter, John Constable. Numbers 5 to 64 are described, including extensive architectural descriptions. Among these buildings is one of the best preserved late-17thC houses of Soho Fields at no. 60.
Greek Street, Soho
First mention of Greek Street is found in 1679. It took its name from the Greek Church, later St. Mary’s, Crown Street. For the researcher of London’s historic pubs, the Greek Street entry of the London Survey is useful for the information it provides about the old pubs, Hercules Pillars and Coach and Horses.
Old Compton Street, Soho
Its is one of the most well-known streets of Soho. Old Compton Street's buildings and their history is described in the Survey of London. One of those is the Casino Theatre, formerly London Casino, previously Prince Edward Theatre.
Leicester Square, Soho, Famous Residents
Robert, second Earl of Leicester, who owned the land of what is today Leicester Square, had the idea in the late 1660s to “lay out a grand square intending the good and benefit of his family... and the decency of the place before Leycester house”. Most of the occupants of houses in the late 17thC were wealthy nobility families. There were also many painters. Among the famous residents were William Hogarth, while Isaac Newton lived in 35 St. Martin's Street, near Leicester Square.
Survey of London, Historical Resource for Soho
The Survey of London, volumes 33 and 34 consists of 522 pages of detailed descriptions of buildings with notes on the residents of the London historic district of Soho, accompanied by 140 plates. It is a valuable secondary historical source for the student and researcher of social, metropolitan, urban and architectural history.
Source
Survey of London, volumes 33 and 34, St. Anne Soho, F.H.W. Sheppard (Editor), 1966
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