Victorian properties and homes are more than just hidden treasures, they make up the bulk of the nation’s housing stock with over 20% of the UK population living in a Victorian-era property (1837-1901).
We should consider ourselves lucky to have such historic housing stock, when standards of buildings became standardised, despite the slums of big cities. The classic Victorian terrace is built on solid foundations with great brickwork, interesting features with an interlacing of inspirations from earlier architectural time periods (for example: gothic revival in the early-mid Victorian era).
Walking around a Victorian home can be like entering a time capsule, centuries of inspiration to be drawn from four walls, high ceilings, classic sash windows and a feature fireplace in most rooms. They feel familiar, like home.
Here is a fine medley of Victorian architecture currently on the market:
The Borough, SE1
Designed by architect Elijah Hoole and originally known as “The Red Cross Hall”, this Grade II listed gem presents an opportunity to acquire a major portion of a building that possesses social and architectural history. It embodies the vision of Octavia Hill, the pioneering social reformer and co-founder of the National Trust who sought to bring a “A bright drawing room for the local community” of the late 1800s.
Its subsequent years have seen it used for community theatre and the founding building of the Boys’ Brigade but for the last four decades or so, a sanctuary of artistic expression for its current custodians.
Its current designation is classified as an “artistic studio”, but subject to planning, its nearly 1900 sq ft is a glorious, live-work, blank canvas. Once stripped of its internal walls and ceilings, will yield an abundance of originality that’s been concealed for years which includes, brick arched windows, tiling, historically distressed herringbone parquet floor and the ingenious hammer-beamed roof joists that reach the apex of the internal roof line.
A set of double doors at the rear of the hall spill out onto the manicured grounds of The Red Cross community garden. If you didn’t have the Shard as your backdrop, you’d be forgiven for thinking this oasis was in the middle of some country village somewhere. While open to the public during controlled hours, Bishops Hall enjoys it all year round.
Grade II Listed mid-Victorian house
This rare and refined Grade II Listed home has been described as “Possibly the finest home in St Leonards”. Many interior features such as the incredibly ornate plasterwork to the ceiling in the Drawing Room remain intact. The house is currently arranged to offer a self-contained one-bedroom flat to the lower floor with its own entrance and small courtyard garden. This could easily be re-configured to offer one enormous home with flexible living spaces across five floors. There is a very pretty and thoughtfully planted garden to the rear of the house with a shady timber gazebo.
The front garden has a tessellated tile path leading to steps up to the front door. The wide hallway contains an exceptional original plaster frieze of a classical scene. The ground floor living space has been opened to create a traditional style kitchen overlooking the garden and a spacious dining space overlooking the private gardens to the front. Also on this floor is a loo and utility room which gives access to the garden.
The elegant staircase brings you to the Drawing Room which spans the entire front of the house and is an impressive and calming room with intact ornate ceiling plasterwork, fireplace and huge windows which open to the balcony. Views across the pretty private park to the sea. Also on this floor is a spacious room currently used as a Study with views over the garden. On the half landing is another loo.
On the second floor is the main bedroom of impressive proportions, again with views to the gardens and the sea. Next door to this is an elegant bathroom which has been cleverly designed and decorated to reflect the original period of the property while offering a great shower and a freestanding bath in the centre of the room. A further loo on the half landing.
On the top floor are two further bedrooms and a bathroom. It’s easy to imagine these rooms as the Nursery of the original home when it was built around 1860 with perhaps a Mary Poppins nanny in charge. Today there are two pretty and characterful bedrooms; the front bedroom has the most spectacular views to the sea and the rear bedroom looks across the garden to the rooftops of St Leonards. Good sized bathroom with some original Deco fittings. A spacious landing area offers a space for reading or playing.
On the lower ground floor there is currently a one-bedroom flat with a good-sized Reception Room, kitchen and bathroom plus access to a small outside courtyard area and exterior storage space which is currently used as the ideal wine storage.
The current owners rent a garage to the rear of the property which can be accessed via the garden.
£1,300,000 – click here to discover Marwick Terrace, St Leonards, TN38
Former Print Workshop, Camberwell
Embedded within the period streetscape of local Victorian architecture, this sizable home has been re-framed to suit family living with the focus of the open plan layout and versatile bedrooms very much being about creating a space from which to work from.
Just past the first entry door, a pocket of storage sits between two sets of windows, this then continues through to the open-plan living area which radiates a warm and inviting atmosphere, enhanced largely by the sun streaming through oversized original shop windows across beautifully preserved honey hued original wooden floor boards.
The energy of this floor has an intensely creative vibe. And open plan it maybe, but there’s also an opportunity to find a quiet corner of tranquillity to work from if the mood takes you. Space is delineated equally across four corners of the very usable floor area. The understated matte black cabinetry of the corner placed kitchen sits below stainless-steel counter tops and with both dining and reception areas sitting adjacent to the culinary heart of the home, it provides the backdrop for a superbly social entertaining space capable of holding some sizable events.
The sense of volume is amplified by lofty ceilings, while thoughtful practicalities include a full wall of storage cupboards, a secret cellar accessed via a floor hatch, and a clever ceiling hatch for easy movement of furniture to the floor above. A discreet door reveals a separate utility room and a generously proportioned family bathroom.
£1,150,000 – click here to discover Flaxman Road, Camberwell, SE5
Victorian School Conversion, N1
Shepperton Road school (renamed Chaplin House) was converted in the mid-2000s into a series of spacious residential units. This duplex apartment has beautiful original Victorian sash school windows, a wonderful asset to the property.
Up on the first floor of the building, natural light is thrown throughout the day and is incredibly private as you are not overlooked. As you enter the apartment, bedroom 2 is on your left and is currently arranged as a guest bedroom and study. Adjacent is a separate guest W/C and a huge storage cupboard, perfect for any large items.
Further inside, it opens into a beautiful open-plan reception room. Original tall Victorian sash windows throw in great light, curating a relaxing living space. The kitchen situated at one end, includes fully integrated appliances and cleverly uses storage and counter-top space.
Upstairs onto the top floor mezzanine, the principal bedroom has an airy and spacious feel, with plenty of space for an additional work area, and built-in wardrobes, a rarity now in more modern developments. A family bathroom completes the apartment, and includes bath with an overhead shower, wash basin and W/C.
The property benefits from a private parking space, a rarity this close to central London. On average private parking spaces in this area rent out for around £175-£200 per month, making it a great earner if you do not have a car.
£550,000 – click here to discover Shepperton Road, Islington, N1
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