• On leaving the gardens, see the rest of Soho Square then exit west along Carlisle Street.

 

Carlisle Street takes its name from a mansion built in the 1680’s and occupied by the Countess of Carlisle. The name was first noted in the 1785 ratebooks (compiled for local taxes), but it had previously been known variously as Marybone Street, Merry Andrew Street, Denmark Street and King’s Square Street.

 

• At the end, take a short walk across Dean Street into the last part of Carlisle Street where the famous satirical magazine ‘Private Eye’ has its offices. (The magazine cover shown above is produced by kind permission of PRIVATE EYE magazine.)

 

Number 6 displays a blue plaque in memory of John Christopher Smith - a friend and treasurer to the noted composer George Frederic Handel.   ///chemistry.care.remedy

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• Walk back to Dean Street, turn right and continue…

 

Karl Marx lived on this street between 1851 and 1856, often in abject poverty and supported by friends, above what is now a popular restaurant. His residence at number 28 is marked by a blue plaque.   ///pokers.analogy.breed

 

Joseph Rogers lived at number 33 and was a champion of reforms in the Poor Law. Beginning with a medical practice in London in 1844, he became a medical officer at St Anne's, Soho, in 1855, during an outbreak of cholera. The next year he was appointed medical officer to the infamous Strand workhouse.    ///goals.dairy.signal

 

It was here that Rogers carried out his reforms in practice, against the determined opposition of the workhouse master, George Catch, and the so-called Guardians of the workhouse. Eventually Rogers had Catch removed, on the grounds that he had delayed calling a doctor for a woman in pain giving birth, to save money.

 

• At Meard Street (on the right-hand side), turn right and enter the narrow passageway. 

 

This is a lovely old, angled street, now largely pedestrianised, with some interesting original Georgian houses. It is named after John Meard, a carpenter who developed it in the 1720s and 1730s from two separate courts. The street name plaque is often photographed for the pun with the French word ‘merde’.  Note the plaque dedicated to Thomas Hearne a renowned water-colourist who lived at number 6.   ///bland.fool.slides