Leicester Square was first known as Leicester Field, and it was a residential area. The north side of the property, prior to becoming Leicester square, only had one building, which was Leicester House. The house belonged to and was built by Robert Sidney, Earl of Leicester between 1632 and 1636. Streets and houses were built around the Leicester Field between the Restoration and the Revolution; and, by the 17th century, its center had been railed around. This area was famous for duels, most notably, the duel between Captain French and Captain Coote; Captain Coote died on the grounds. Around this time, Leicester House was no longer the only building on the grounds; there were many other mansions built around it, one of which belonged to Lord Ailesbury. Princess Elizabeth, daughter of James I, lived in Leicester House for a short time, and William, Duke of Cumberland, was born there in 1721. The house was briefly turned into a Museum of Natural History, and was torn down in 1806; Leicester Place was built afterward. As the years went by, Leicester Square became a hub for entertainment and less of a residential area.

The Royal Alhambra Palace Theatre was a major feature in Leicester Square, and it opened in 1852. It was a music hall and theater, with a great dome in the center, lofty minarets in the corners, and most notably, the rotunda, which was formed by tiers of galleries, and horseshoe-shaped arches. Northeast of the square was the Panorama, where Buford’s panoramas were exhibited frequently over several years. Part of the Panorama was originally used as a penny-newsroom but was later converted into Roman Catholic Church. Wyld’s Great Globe was exhibited in 1851 and was contained within a very large and circular domed building. The globe was sixty-five feet in diameter, and the surface took up around ten thousand square feet. The globe was removed after ten years despite all of the attraction it garnered. This area went from being well kept and lively, to a very neglected eyesore. The vegetation was horribly overgrown, it was full of litter and even dead animals, such as cats and dogs. There was a great statue of George I, which was once gilded and beautiful, but fell into disgrace with neglect, becoming subject to great vandalism: the arms were removed, then the legs, and lastly, the head. The state of the square was so horrid, that it got the attention of Parliament. In 1874, Albert Grant purchased the square and set out to make it a public garden. The center space became a beautiful, ornamental garden, with a white marble fountain, surmounted by a statue of William Shakespeare. The fountain was surrounded by flowerbeds, and so was the enclosure. 

Thornbury, Walter. "Leicester Square." Old and New London: Volume 3. London: Cassell, Petter & Galpin, 1878. 160-173. British History Online. Web. 15 October 2020.

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