Its buildings were predominantly residential, one remains wholly so, No.48. The square is mostly offices typical of Mayfair including bluechips' meeting spaces, hedge funds, niche headhunters and wealth management businesses. The buildings' architects included Robert Adam but 9 Fitzmaurice Place is now on the south corner's approach. 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 on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens. The square features a sculptural fountain by Alexander Munro, a Pre-Raphaelitesculptor, made in 1865. On the eastern side is a bronze sculpture of Velasquez' Reina Mariana by Manolo Valdes. 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.
History
The square is among those that demonstrate non-waiver of restrictive covenants. In 1696, Berkeley House on Piccadilly became Devonshire House when John Berkeley, 3rd Baron Berkeley of Stratton, sold it by deed to William Cavendish, 1st Duke of Devonshire. With express intent to bind later owners Berkeley undertook not to build on land retained very directly behind the house, so keeping the Duke's house's rear view. The southernmost portion saw either a breach and passage of 20 years without claim 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:
John Byng, Vice-Admiral, Royal Navy. His home was decorated by architect Isaac Ware
Cathy Lane, Patty Lane's "identical cousin", is said to have lived here in the theme song to The Patty Duke Show.
"Tomlinson", the title character of Rudyard Kipling's 1891 satirical poem, "gave up the ghost at his house in Berkeley Square".
Peter Standish, a character from the play Berkeley Square written by John Balderston, about a Yankee who lives in a house on the square and is transported back to the 18th century. The play was produced as a movie in 1933, with Leslie Howard, and in 1951, and on television in 1959.
In the 1949 comedy filmKind Hearts and Coronets, Lady Agatha D'Ascogne is made to fall to her death in Berkeley Square to accommodate a clever poetic parody.
Lady Emily Ashton, created by author Tasha Alexander, lives primarily in her Berkeley Square residence during the Victorian period.
The Marquis of Alverstoke, the main male character from the novel Frederica by Georgette Heyer.
Transport
Berkeley Square is a typical prime Central London distance from:-
