Originally built as a home for a merchant navy captain, this Victorian double-fronted ground-floor apartment takes prime position overlooking Charlottenburg Park, in New Cross. From the red brick fronted façade, stucco-framed sash windows look out onto the park’s contemporary landscaping. Inside, there are two bedrooms, a well-proportioned living room, and a kitchen that opens onto a large private garden. Typical of its era, high ceilings and large windows make for light and well proportioned spaces throughout the apartment. Amersham Grove is minutes from New Cross station with overground and rail links across London.
Setting the Scene
The terraced housing along Amersham Grove is remarkably complete, the majority originally built for railway workers and their families following the opening of Deptford Station in 1836. Constructed to connect the town with London Bridge, over the past 180 years the station building has gone through many iterations, differing in architectural period and style. Due to its scale and refined elevation, this house is architecturally distinct from yet sympathetic to the terrace of worker’s cottages that run along the grove. On settling in the area, J. T. Taylor, the captain for whom the house was built, established a museum next door to display his curios from his extensive travels worldwide.
The Grand Tour
Approached from the square, the apartment is set back from the road by low brick forecourt walls topped with stone spherical pedestals. On entering, a broad hallway connects each of the spaces and draws the eye through the space, where timber flooring runs throughout. The current owner has carried out a thorough refurbishment, applying an exacting classical-yet-contemporary style in every room.
The living room, finished in the sultry tones of ‘Down Pipe’ by Farrow & Ball, occupies one of the two front rooms. The sash window is surrounded by working timber shutters, framing views of the pristine park beyond. The original chimney breast has been retained and finished with an exposed brick-backed fire alcove.
At the rear, the kitchen has been recently renovated. Here Farrow & Ball’s ‘Elmbridge Navy’-painted timber cabinetry is topped with quartz countertops. The units run along two walls with a mixture of worktops and full-height cupboards, providing a broad range of storage. This convivial room has space for a large dining table and connects directly to the garden for summer entertaining.
There are two bedrooms, one at the front and one at the rear of the plan. At the back of the building, the guest room is finished in the subtle tones of ‘Pavillion Gray’ by Farrow & Ball and has a substantial marble-lined en suite with underfloor heating and classical regency-style sanitaryware, including a bath. This timeless style is echoed in the en suite of the front bedroom, where the same marble lines a walk-in shower.
The Great Outdoors
Following the broad width of the house, the expansive private rear garden has two main areas and backs onto the pretty Royal Naval Place allotments. The terraced area to the rear, is tucked close to the wisteria clad outrigger, and occupies a sunny and sheltered spot perfect for barbecues. Beyond there is a large lawned area, bound by a brick wall and edged with a border of perennials including jasmine, rosemary, and lavender.
Out and About
Amersham Grove sits between two vibrant London neighbourhoods, Deptford and New Cross with their countless popular pubs, restaurants and markets. Local favourites include the delectable Italian delights of Marcella and Aprina Bakery, purveyors of good coffee and excellent vegan-friendly pastries. The hubs of Greenwich, St Johns, Nunhead are all close by and have rich and varied histories.
Accessible green spaces abound; Fordham Park, Margaret McMillan Park, Folkstone Gardens are all near. A little further afield are Nunhead Cemetery, Peckham Rye and the wonderous Hilly Fields. The Green Chain Walk, which extends across south-east London is easily reached and invites an exploration of the wider city quadrant.
There is a renowned farmers’ market every Saturday at Brockley Market, offering a wide range of organic produce, alongside food trucks and wine merchants. Deptford Market Yard, a collection of independent shops and restaurants set within and around Deptford’s refurbished railway arches, is nearby. Telegraph Hill is within walking distance and also has a weekly farmers’ market as well as access to two parks. Goldsmiths University and its free public art gallery, the Goldsmiths Centre for Contemporary Art, are also close by.
The apartment is a four-minute walk from New Cross Station, which runs services to London Bridge in five minutes, as well as frequent Overground services with connections to Peckham, Shoreditch and Highbury & Islington. Deptford Station is a nine-minute walk and runs regular Thameslink services to Farringdon, St Pancras and many others.
Tenure: Leasehold
Lease Length: Approx. 120 years remaining
Service Charge: Approx. £200 per annum.
Ground Rent: Approx. £10 per annum.
Council Tax Band: B
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