BERKELEY SQUARE: A BRIEF HISTORY

Berkeley Square was named after John Berkeley, first Lord Berkeley of Stratton, who took possession of the land to the north of his newly acquired house in Piccadilly in 1675. The 4th Lord Berkeley and his son John entered into an agreement with two carpenters, Edward Cook and Francis Hilliard, for a building lease of about six and a half acres of the Berkeley Fields for the development of their estate.

The bricks for the new buildings were made on the spot from earth dug in Berkeley Fields. The first houses to define the square were constructed around 1738 on the East side. Standing on their own they were first named Berkeley Row. The West side was finished by 1745 and were described as being part of "a new intended square designed to be called Berkeley Square". A few of the original houses still survive, most notably Number 44. The square predates Hill Street and Charles Street to the west, both of which were built shortly afterward.

Although Berkeley Square became the height of fashion for a town residence, there were also various shops and business houses in the square. There was Hemley's coffee-house, bought and converted before 1744 to become Gwynn's Tavern. A carpenter, wax chandler, woollen draper, undertaker, distiller, hosier, tailor and an apothecary were all based in Berkeley Square.

Lansdowne House was designed by Robert Adam in about 1762 for the third Earl of Bute and stood on the south side of Berkeley Square. It was sold in 1765 to the second Earl of Shelburne, who became the first Marquess of Lansdowne in 1784. It was regularly used as a venue for cabinet meetings, the residents being prominent members of the Whig party, enhancing the square's reputation as a political centre of the time.

Gordon Selfridge, founder of the department store on Oxford street, lived in Lansdowne House for eight years until 1929 when it was sold for £750,000 to become the Lansdowne Club. Part of the house was demolished to form Fitzmaurice Place on the square's southern corner in 1935. The dining room is now in the Metropolitan Museum in New York, and the drawing room is in the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Horace Walpole (1717-1797), connoisseur, man-of letters and fourth son of Prime Minister Sir Robert Walpole, lived at No. 11 from 1779 until he died.

Colley Cibber (1671-1757), actor, dramatist and poet laureate, lived at No. 19 from 1750.

No. 44 was built in 1742-1744 by William Kent. It has been called the finest terraced house in London, being particularly noted for its interior. Nos. 45 and 46, built about 1750-1760, probably by Isaac Ware, are two of the Square's few remaining original buildings. Henry Flitcroft, architect of the church of St. Giles-in-the-Fields leased No. 45 after 1744, to be followed by Robert, Lord Clive, (Clive of India) (1725-1774), soldier and administrator, who lived there from 1761 until his death, from an overdose of laudanum.

Number 47 is considered to be a good example of imitation Italian Renaissance (1891).

George Canning (1770-1827) became Foreign Secretary whilst at No. 50 Berkeley Square.

The bricks for the new buildings were made on the spot from earth during the construction of Berkeley Fields. The first houses to define the square were constructed around 1738 on the East side. Standing on their own they were first named Berkeley Row. The West side was finished by 1745 and were described as being part of "a new intended square designed to be called Berkeley Square". A few of the original houses still survive, most notably Number 44. The square predates Hill Street and Charles Street to the west, both of which were built shortly afterward.

Colley Gibber (1671-1757), actor, dramatist and poet laureate, lived at No. 19 from 1750.

No. 44 was built in 1742-1744 by William Kent. It has been called the finest terraced house in London, being particularly noted for its interior. Nos. 45 and 46, built about 1750-1760, probably by Isaac Ware, are two of the Square's few remaining original buildings. Henry Flitcroft, architect of the church of St. Giles-in-the-Fields leased No. 45 after 1744, to be followed by Robert, Lord Clive, (Clive of India)(1725-1774), soldier and administrator, who lived there from 1761 until his death, from an overdose of laudanum.

Site Safety Rules - Timebased Events Ltd.

GLAMOUR WOMEN OF THE YEAR AWARDS (4th June 2013) and LREF (10th, 11th, 12th June 2013), in
Temporary Structures on the North Side of Berkeley Square, London W1
- Build and Dismantle Days 31st May – 16th June 2013

• READ THIS NOTICE

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