Berkeley Square, W1J
Mayfair on the Monopoly board
Berkeley Square was originally laid out in the mid 18th century by architect William Kent.

The square was created by happen-chance. In 1696, Berkeley House on Piccadilly became Devonshire House when John Berkeley, 3rd Baron Berkeley of Stratton, sold it to the 1st Duke of Devonshire. As part of the agreement, Lord Berkeley undertook not to build on that part of the land he retained that lay directly behind the house, keeping the new owner’s view.

This agreement was continued when the Berkeley land was developed after 1730, and the gardens of Berkeley Square are the termination of this undeveloped strip and to the south the gardens of Lansdowne House were originally also part of it. These gardens were replaced by the current south side of the square.

The first houses to define the square were constructed around 1738 on the east side. The west side was finished by 1745.

The buildings around the square include several by other notable architects including Robert Adam.

The gardens in the centre of Berkeley Square are open to the public, and their very large London Plane trees are among the oldest in central London, planted in 1789. The gardens are Grade II listed on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens.

In 2008, one of the square’s trees was calculated 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.

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