Berkeley Square
Berkeley Square is a garden square in the West End of London. It is one of the best known of the many squares in London, located in Mayfair in the City of Westminster. It was laid out in the mid 18th century by the architect William Kent, and originally extended further south. The gardens' very large London Plane trees are among the oldest in central London, planted in 1789. Description. Buildings. Like most squares in British cities, it is surrounded largely by terraced houses, in this case grand townhouses. Originally these were the London residences of very wealthy  families who would spend most of the year at their country house. Only one building, number 48, remains wholly residential. Most have been converted into offices for businesses typical of Mayfair, such as bluechips' meeting spaces, hedge funds, niche headhunters and wealth management businesses. The buildings' architects included Robert Adam but 9 Fitzmaurice Place (since 1935 home of the Lansdowne Club, earlier known as Shelb(o)urne then Lansdowne House — all three names referring to the same branch of one family) is now on the south corner's approach ("Fitzmaurice Place"). The daring staircase-hall of No.44 is sometimes considered William Kent 's masterpiece. Gunter's Tea Shop, founded under a different name in 1757, used to trade here. 50 Berkeley Square is allegedly haunted; it used to be occupied by Maggs Brothers Antiquarian Booksellers. Approach ways include Berkeley Street, Curzon Street, and Hill Street. Gardens. The gardens of Berkeley Square are Grade II listed (are in the initial category) on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens. They are in fact very plain from the horticultural point of view, with grass and paths, but dominated by a famous group of London Plane trees around the gardens, planted in 1789, the year  of the French Revolution. In 2008, one of the trees was said to be the "most valuable street tree in Britain" by the London Tree Officers Association, in terms of its size, health, historical significance and the number of people who live near to it. One in the east is a Great Tree of London. The square features a sculptural fountain by Alexander Munro, a Pre-Raphaelite sculptor, made in 1865. On the eastern side is a bronze by Manolo Valdes. History. The square was originally the bottom of the large garden of Berkeley House on Piccadilly, subsequently Devonshire House . In 1696, John Berkeley, 3rd Baron Berkeley of Stratton, sold the house and much of the garden to William Cavendish, 1st Duke of Devonshire, but retained a significant area at the bottom, including the site of Berkeley Square. The square is among those that demonstrate non-waiver of (no later agreement to forego) restrictive covenants. In 1696, with express intent to bind later owners, Berkeley undertook not to build on land retained very directly behind the house, so preserving the view from the rear of the ducal residence. The southernmost portion saw either a breach and passage of 20 years  without claim (the limitation period of deeds) or a release of covenant agreement struck up - it was until about 1930 legally required green space, namely gardens of 9 Fitzmaurice Place. They became the new south side of the square. Famous residents. Residents have included: At Lansdowne House, formerly on the square: Transport. Berkeley Square is a typical prime Central London distance from:- London Buses route 22 passes through the square. Berkeley Square hosts vehicle charging points supplied by Elektromotive.