SEVEN DIALS RENAISSANCE: HISTORIC LONDON STREET TO RIVAL GREAT EUROPEAN CITIES

30 January 2006

Londoners will be presented with a historic street to rival those of other great European cities, when a high quality refurbishment of Monmouth Street in Seven Dials (near Covent Garden) is complete.

Camden Council, in partnership with the Seven Dials Monument Charity, has put together a comprehensive package of improvements to upgrade Monmouth Street, either side of the historic Seven Dials. The project represents an investment of approximately £800,000 in the Seven Dials area. The first phase of the work, to the northern side of the street, drew to a close in December and the second phase starts this week (30 January), with the work expected to end by June 2006.

The Seven Dials were created in the 1690s, when an enterprising landholder created a street system based on a six-pointed star to maximise the amount of housing he could rent. But over the next three hundred years, the fortunes of the area rose and fell. Once home to affluent merchants and lawyers, by the end of the 18th century it had become one of London’s most notorious slums (see notes for full history). Monmouth Street forms two arms of Seven Dials.

Now, this ambitious scheme is the latest step in the Seven Dials Renaissance Project, part of Camden Council’s Clear Zones initiative. Designed and jointly funded by Camden Council and the Seven Dials Monument Charity, the Monmouth Street improvements build upon the considerable - and ongoing - heritage façade improvements by freeholders of local buildings based on the charity's Renaissance Studies.

The historic character of Monmouth Street will be enhanced by re-paving the roads and pavements at both ends of the street. This means that the whole length of the street will be repaved from one side to the other. Pavements will be in York Stone with multi-coloured granite ‘setts’ being used for the road. Granite setts give a ‘cobbled’ appearance but the setts are individually machine cut and hand-laid to provide a level surface. This means the setts are safer for pedestrians and reduce road noise from passing vehicles.

The street improvements in Monmouth Street have been promoted and designed by Camden Council’s in-house Clear Zones team, with the Seven Dials Monument Charity. It is one of a number of projects to make the borough cleaner, safer and greener. The scheme increases pavement space and the number of informal crossing facilities for pedestrians. It also aims to reduce the speed and amount of motor traffic using Monmouth Street. This should improve the quality of life for residents and businesses in this area, by making the pavements and streets safer, less congested and less polluted in the Clear Zone.

Specially designed heritage lanterns, based on historic gas lamps, will be installed throughout the area. The existing lamp columns will be removed from the pavements to reduce street clutter for pedestrians, and new heritage lanterns will be fixed to buildings in a traditional style.

There will also be a new lighting scheme for the Seven Dials Sundial Pillar. The original sundial was demolished in 1773, when the area was in decline, to prevent ne’er do wells from using it as a meeting point. The Seven Dials Monument Charity restored the sundial in 1989 and it will be illuminated via a scheme drawn up for the charity by Philips Lighting UK.

Cllr John Thane, Executive Member for Environment, Camden Council said: ”Seven Dials is an important Camden landmark and this refurbishment will enhance it. Working in partnership with local people and the Seven Dials Monument Charity, we aim to make this historic precinct rival those of other great European cities. The improvements to Monmouth Street will make the area cleaner and safer for pedestrians by improving the quality of the pavements and reducing the amount of motor traffic. The new lighting schemes will help people feel more confident at night, as well as making Seven Dials a more attractive place.”

David Bieda, Chair of the Seven Dials Monument Charity, said: “These works are an important part of the vision set out in the Seven Dials Renaissance Project which aims to provide a coherent action plan for the enhancement of all aspects of the built heritage from facades to streets and lighting. This project should transform the appearance of Monmouth Street both during the day and at night and make a positive contribution to this unusual conservation area in the heart of the West End. The charity is pleased to be working in partnership with Camden Council and with residents and businesses.”

The improvements are jointly funded by Camden Council and the Seven Dials Monument Charity.

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