The garden in the centre of the Square - the site of which, Coke told Haydon the painter, was an excellent place for snipe - was once in an extremely chaotic state, as in 1766 an Act was passed "for inclosing, paving, cleansing, lighting, and adorning Berkeley Square."
This Act contained a declaration that "the late enclosure is gone to ruin," but the inhabitants of the Square were willing and keen to raise money sufficient for better paving, lighting, supporting, and maintenance for the future through an adequate contribution among themselves.
Trustees were duly appointed, and were subsequently delegated by the freeholders for carrying out the provisions of this Act, and to collect the necessary rates for the maintenance of the Square.