About us
Bedford Row - a short history
Until the end of the seventeenth century the area to the west of Gray's Inn was countryside with uninterrupted views to Hampstead and Highgate in the north. Behind the Red Lion Inn in Holborn were open fields used for recreation, archery and even duels.
In 1684 the right to build in the area was acquired by Dr Nicholas Barbon, an unscrupulous property speculator, who had already made a fortune in developments in the Strand. The tenants of Gray's Inn, incensed at the loss of their rural views, fought a pitched battle with Barbon's workmen, while the benchers took more discreet proceedings to stop his development. Barbon, however, had the good fortune of having the Lord Chief Justice, 'Judge' Jeffreys, on his side and the efforts of Gray's Inn were to no avail. Barbon's development began in Red Lion Square and then proceeded to Bedford Row.
Fairly quickly the lawyers came to be reconciled with the loss their views and saw the advantages of the town houses which Barbon had built.
In 1734 the Row was described as 'one of the most noble streets that London has to boast of'. One early tenant in Bedford Row was Judge Jeffrey's successor, Sir John Holt, Lord Chief Justice from 1689 to 1710. Holt was on of the greatest English Judges - A man of common sense, courage and humour. A portrait of Holt hangs in our principal conference room. Another tenant of the new buildings in Bedford Row was Oliver Cromwell's daughter, Elizabeth, who died here in 1731 aged 82.
A feature of the area by the nineteenth century was the influx of migrant families from Italy. The Italian Church is still to be seen in Clerkenwell Road. The roads around Bedford Row contain many reminders of the Italian community which thrived in that part of London - not least some excellent restaurants where our clients will find good food and wines.