Tavistock Square, Garden square in Bloomsbury, London
Tavistock Square is a rectangular garden square in Bloomsbury, a district within Camden, surrounded by Georgian terraced houses and modern buildings. At its center stands a bronze statue of Mahatma Gandhi, encircled by paths, benches, and several commemorative plaques distributed among lawns and trees.
Thomas Cubitt laid out the square in the 1820s on land belonging to the Duke of Bedford, naming it after the family's hereditary title of Marquess of Tavistock. The garden was reshaped during the 20th century to accommodate memorials to nonviolence and peace, reflecting significant events and figures.
The square takes its name from the Marquess of Tavistock, a title traditionally held by the Duke of Bedford's family. Visitors today encounter several peace memorials, including a cherry tree honoring Hiroshima victims and a sculpture inviting reflection on nonviolent resistance.
The garden opens during daylight hours and offers level paths suitable for wheelchairs and strollers. Visitors can view all monuments and memorials comfortably from different angles while resting on benches shaded by trees.
A cherry tree planted in 1967 honors Hiroshima victims and was set in the ground in the presence of survivors of the atomic bombings. Next to it, a maple tree marks the 1986 International Year of Peace, making the garden a quiet place where trees themselves serve as living memorials.
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