Victorian Secrets: five 19th-century gems waiting to be discovered

The flushing loo, the telephone and even the great London Underground – some of the best inventions were thought up by those clever Victorians. And while the scientists of the 19^th century were beavering away making electric lights shine and stream trains chug, the architects were similarly busy, lining up their set squares and creating arguably the era’s best invention (at least in our opinion): the Victorian home. These ingenuous buildings – all high ceilings, beautiful cornicing and generous proportions – are, we like to think, the Colin the Caterpillar of British architecture: wonderfully easy to find (more than six million were built between 1837 and 1901) yet no less thrilling for that fact. Here are five of our favourites on the market.

Queen’s Road, Chatham, Kent

Chatham – and Kent for that matter – developed exponentially during the 19^th century, thanks largely to its dockyards, home to HMS Victory, which served in the Battle of Trafalgar. The town’s growth brought with it some shipshape houses too, including this wonderful terraced number. Bay windows, stone quoins and stucco adorn the outside, while panelling, wooden floors and grand fireplaces enrich the interiors, all testament to the beauty of Victorian design. Perhaps most excitingly, this house has a distinctive iron veranda overlooking a lovely garden filled with lavender, which in the coming months will bloom into a scented sea of tranquillity.

View listing here.

Alma Square, London NW8

Living in St John’s Wood is desirable for a whole host of reasons. Known for its picturesquely leafy streets, it’s also home to Lord’s Cricket Ground, Abbey Road Studios and part of the Regent’s Canal. First developed in the early 1800s and further built upon during the reign of Victoria, the area is defined by the buildings from this time – but they’re not quite as you’d expect. Rather than rows of neat, terraced houses, St John’s Wood is characterised by its boulevards and squares of grand villas, one of which houses this wonderful one-bedroom apartment. With elegant sash windows, beautiful parquet floors and amazing treetop views, it perfectly echoes the grandeur of its surroundings.

View listing here.

Chambercombe Terrace, Ilfracombe, Devon

Is there a greater compliment to a house than its architect moving in after it was built? That’s exactly what happened with this particular home in Ilfracombe: Robert Heddon Lewis loved it so much, he lived in it. Set above a beautiful stretch of coastline, the house is a short walk from the beach, and glimpses of the sea can be seen through the beautiful stained glass found in many of the rooms. But those colourful windows aren’t the only features that glimmers here; the tapestry of original tiling in the hallway and the grand sweeping central staircase also point to the decadence of the late Victorian era, all carefully balanced by the house’s soft colour palette.

View listing here.

The Watch Shop, Crystal Palace Road, London SE22

Of course, not all Victorian homes were designed as such, and this three-bedroom house in south-east London – a former watch shop – is a perfect example of the possibilities of reuse. Its current owners – whom we interviewed about its regenerative root-and-branch overhaul before it came to market – have created something that sums up everything we love about modern living in historic homes. While they’ve retained much of the house’s period detailing, including its 19^th-century shopfront (now fitted with delightful, diaphanous café curtains for privacy) and original plaster walls, they’ve also ensured it makes sense for life today, using traditional non-toxic materials such as limewash and tadelakt, and incorporating salvage where possible – all proof that renovations needn’t be reckless.

View listing here.

Bethnal Green Road, London E2

This wonderful maisonette and commercial space below – currently run as a contemporary gallery – are works of art in themselves. Throughout, stripped wooden floorboards speak beautifully to the original panelling and crisp cornicing, while the spaces themselves have been finished with the utmost care and style; we love the use of Farrow & Ball’s cool and calming ‘Pointing’. While one bedroom has been turned into a spectacular studio, another, tucked away in the eaves and with exposed beams and Velux windows, feels a world away from work. This listing also has two separate terraces, perfect for soaking up the sunshine – a rare treat in such a central location.

View listing here.