How Bloomsbury has changed since the 20th century. Properties are becoming slicker, less bookish and more bling.

The 1970s digs of Bob Marley and the Wailers, for example, near the Bloomsbury Group cradle in Gordon Square, are now portered flats, one of which has just come on to the market at £1.8 million. When the world's most successful reggae band first came to Britain in 1972, 34 Ridgmount Gardens WC1 was their London crash pad. Anne Reid, a Coronation Street actress, later bought the flat.

On October 26, 2006, a blue plaque was unveiled to commemorate Robert Nesta Marley's London home.

Flat 99 Ridgmount Gardens is now for sale for £1.8 million through Winkworth. The present owners have souped it up with Crestron home automation and an inbuilt aquarium. The flat has two bedrooms, two travertine marbled bathrooms - one of which has a freestanding crystal bath - and a 145-year lease. The building is an 1890s redbrick mansion block overlooking a large rectangular garden.

Visit ridgmountgardens.co.uk or contact Winkworth West End (020-7240 3322). Lettings in the block are dealt with by Hurford Salvi Carr and the flats are managed by the Bedford Estates.

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