This exquisite two-bedroom house is tucked away in the Stockwell Conservation Area, a historically significant enclave of south London. The house is Grade II-listed and was built in the mid-19th century as part of a row of stuccoed Recency cottages on one of the finest streets in the area. Restored with painstaking attention to detail throughout, carefully retaining original features, the interiors are characterised by a pared-back colour scheme and an honest material palette. A tranquil garden sits behind the house, while an enclosed courtyard lies at the front.
We’ve written about life here in more depth.
Setting the Scene
Stockwell’s name originally derives from a wellspring next to a tree stump, which was first recorded in 1197. Its eponymous green formed the focus of this settlement, with a substantial manor house and several public houses. The area was developed mainly in the 18th and 19th centuries, with one of the earliest churches in the borough, Stockwell Congregational Church, built in 1798. The original chapel was re-faced in 1850 and now makes up part of the enclave of houses compromising Stockwell Green. For more information, please see the History section below.
The Grand Tour
The quiet side entrance to the house is accessed by a private road leading to Stockwell Congregational Church. Externally, the house has been repointed, and the stucco finished in beautifully textured untreated lime. The door to the house has been acid washed internally, and the exposed lime-plastered walls are finished in breathable Graphenstone paint. At the front of the plan sits a charming sitting room, with exposed beams overhead and floorboards reclaimed from the Royal Doulton factory, the timber originally used to rest drying china. Open fireplaces, restored sash windows, and cast-iron radiators complement the space.
At the rear of the house is the dining room. Here, a wood-burning stove is nestled in an exposed-brick fireplace, flanked by original storage cupboards; a large sash window has views over the private garden. Leading into the kitchen, a bank of open shelving and antique units sit beneath exposed beams, which rise into the apex of the roof. A butler’s sink and a zinc worktop abut a large, picture window which casts light into the space.
At the rear of the ground floor is a large family bathroom where original beams punctuate lime plaster and exposed brickwork on the walls; beautiful, heavy lead lining surrounds the bath. There is also an original cast-iron radiator and a bank of storage to hide all of life’s necessities.
Upstairs, a large primary bedroom overlooks quiet Stockwell Green. Here, wardrobes are made out of stripped wood and an original storage cupboard flanks an exposed fireplace; the current owner’s original ceiling rose artwork adds a charming touch. Next door, the second bedroom is a similar size and has been finished with a beautiful lime plaster brick. It has bespoke fitted cabinetry and calming views over the quiet garden.
The Great Outdoors
Externally, the garden is a secluded oasis at the rear of the house. Gravelled pathways flow next to well-established Virginia creepers, grapevines and jasmine, creating a wonderful sense of privacy for a morning coffee or eating alfresco. At the rear of the garden is a deep potting shed, which the current owners have used for storage. An additional side gate leads to the back door entrance via the kitchen. The front courtyard has room for planters.
Out and About
Stockwell Green is one of the most desirable streets in the Stockwell Green Conservation area. The road is a peaceful enclave in Zone Two and is just a short walk from Slade Garden Park. The area is wonderfully served, with nearby Brixton known for its excellent food and bar scene within easy reach, where Brixton Village, Market Row and Acre Lane are all highly recommended destinations. The Ritzy Cinema, Electric Brixton and Brixton O2 Academy are much-loved local institutions, and there are also regular farmer’s markets in Brixton and nearby Oval.
Clapham Common, Battersea Park and the River Thames are all within walking distance. The greenery of Larkhall Park is only a fifteen-minute stroll away.
Stockwell Underground station is easily reached, with access to the Northern and Victoria Lines (providing quick access to central London) and connections to the London Overground at Clapham High Street. There are a number of buses that run into central London along Clapham and Brixton Road.
Council Tax Band: D
History
By the late 18th-century, improved infrastructure and the introduction of the Thames Bridges allowed gradual expansion into South London. Following the original roads, areas such as Vauxhall and Stockwell were gradually taken up by wealthy merchants fleeing the city in search of clean air and a semi-rural character, but with easy access to their interests in the capitol. This period marked the transformation of Stockwell into urban suburb.
The opening of Vauxhall Bridge in 1816 and the introduction of the railways in 1860 saw the area widely developed; by 1871, ordinance survey maps show the area of Stockwell Green surrounded by expanding roads of terraced housing and villas. Unique for its remaining architecture of significant importance, the Regency homes of Stockwell Green and the Stockwell Congregational Church are a fascinating example of a period of change in London’s history.
The Stockwell Green Conservation Area was designated in 1986 and covers the historic hamlet of Stockwell Green, compromising late Georgian dwellings which were built around what was once a triangular open space. Recognised for its charming architecture and relatively conservative stuccoed houses, the area has been preserved for future generations with a number of Grade * listings and its later designation.
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