London SW9£1,100,000 Leasehold

Groveway

A secret rear garden has an array of rare fruit trees, including a strawberry tree, quince, medlar and pomegranate

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This light-filled maisonette sits on the top two floors of a handsome Victorian house, built in c.1870. Unfolding over 1,280 sq ft, the apartment is arranged around an original staircase with a curved mahogany handrail and elegant spindles. Dual-aspect, the living areas are bathed in sun throughout the day, with wonderfully green views from the rear of the apartment. A picturesque garden is currently divided between a lawned area perfect for eating outside, and an incredible vegetable patch planted with an array of unusual vegetables and fruit trees. Found in a wonderful position in the Stockwell Park Conservation Area, the house is a short walk from Stockwell Station.

Setting the Scene

Designated a Conservation Area in 1968, Stockwell Park is defined by its late Georgian and early-to-mid Victorian homes. One of the oldest and longest established hamlets in the London Borough of Lambeth, the area grew around the open space of Stockwell Green, which is still discernible despite being built over in the late 19th century. The area was largely developed during the 18th and 19th centuries, when wealthy merchants took advantage of available rural land to build stately villas away from the crowded city centre. These villas were laid out in a formal arrangement of straight roads and crescents set within pleasant, mature gardens, and are characterised by their distinct Neoclassical detailing. This more informal ‘Rus in Urbe’ (or, ‘countryside in the town’) development marked a significant transition away from the more formal urban terraces typical of the Georgian period. For more information, please see the History section.

The Grand Tour

Entry into the apartment is on the ground floor, where there is space to hang up coats and kick off shoes. Here, the refined cantilevered staircase curves around and leads to the first floor. Bespoke cabinetry can be found throughout, from a hand-built kitchen to clever corner cupboards installed along the stairs that provide handy storage.

The living spaces are found on the first floor; separated by double doors, the rooms have high ceilings and are wonderfully light thanks to the apartment’s dual aspect. The kitchen and dining area sits to the rear of the plan, comprising bespoke cabinetry with wooden countertops, a beautiful plate rack and a splashback made up of white squared tiles. There is space for a stove within an old fireplace crowned with a wooden lintel. During the apartment’s restoration, the original narrow floorboards were all lifted, and any that couldn’t be saved were replaced with reclaimed boards from the era. The large sash windows – which frame lovely green views over neighbouring gardens – were also refurbished.

Opposite, the sitting room is arranged around a working fireplace. A line of bespoke bookshelves and cupboards line one wall. Cast iron radiators have been installed throughout. There is a shared family bathroom on this floor, with pretty views from a window adjacent to the bath.

Three bedrooms occupy the top floor; all share in an excellent quality of light, generous ceiling heights and wooden floorboards underfoot. One of the bedrooms is complete with fitted cupboards.

The Great Outdoors

A door leads from the ground floor hallway past a useful pantry to the outdoors, where a path leads to a beautiful private garden. Surrounded by mature trees and backing onto a wall covered with three types of climbing rose, the garden is a quiet oasis, like a secret garden. Flower beds full of incredible, colourful plants – some edible, some ornamental – frame a grassy area, perfect for placing a big table and chairs. The back portion of the garden is reserved for raised vegetable beds, with lots of space for a greenhouse or potting shed. The current owners’ passion for rare fruit trees has led to an incredible variety of species, including a strawberry tree (Arbutus Unedo), quince, medlar and pomegranate, as well as mature trees including a Catalpa bignonioides Aurea. There is also a pink elderflower, perfect to be made into a sparkling summer drink, as well as more unusual interspecific varieties of fruit tree, such as pluots and apriums. The rear part of the garden would also make a brilliant area for a studio.

Out and About

Situated between the busier hubs of Brixton, Clapham and Vauxhall, Stockwell is known as ‘Little Portugal’ for its large and diverse Portuguese-speaking community. The area has several good pubs, including local favourite The Canton Arms; a short distance to the south is The Landor, with its large garden. Brixton, a lively area known for its excellent food and bar scene, is within easy reach; Brixton Village, Market Row and Acre Lane are all highly recommended destinations. The Ritzy Cinema and Electric Brixton are much-loved institutions. There are also regular farmers’ markets in Brixton, Oval and Herne Hill.

The Stockwell Park Residents’ Association is very active, and holds events throughout the year. Slade Gardens, off Stockwell Park Road, is a two-minute walk from the house, with its children’s play area, adventure playground and One O’Clock Club. The beautiful Myatts Fields Park is a 15-minute stroll towards Camberwell, and for more expansive walks, the open fields of Burgess Park and Battersea Park are a 30-minute walk east and west, respectively. There are tennis courts, a café and a lake at Burgess Park. The beautiful Battersea Park has a riverside promenade facing the Thames and tree-lined avenues that meander around a large boating lake and through open-lawned areas. It is adjacent to the newly opened Battersea Power Station development, home to an excellent array of high-end shops, restaurants and a cinema.

There is an excellent selection of schools in the area. State primary schools include the Ofsted “Outstanding”-rated Herbert Morrison on Hartington Road, Wyvil, Reay on Hackford Road, Ashmole and Henry Fawcett on Bowling Green Street. The neighbourhood comprehensive Platanos College (co-ed, ages 11 to 16) on Clapham Road is also rated “Outstanding” by Ofsted, as are the nearby Lilian Baylis (co-ed, ages 11 to 18) on Kennington Lane, Oasis Academy (co-ed, ages 11 to 16) on Westminster Bridge Road, Sacred Heart RC (co-ed, ages 11 to 18) on Camberwell New Road and Notre Dame RC (girls, ages 11 to 16) on St George’s Road in Kennington. Independent schools, mostly to the west and south, include Eaton House, Parkgate School, Emmanuel School, Thomas’s and L’école de Wix Lycée Français, Alleyns, JAGS and Dulwich College.

For transport connections, Underground services from Stockwell Station are approximately four minutes’ walk away and include Victoria and Northern Line services to Oxford Circus, London Bridge, Waterloo and King’s Cross. Stations at Clapham North and Clapham High Street are less than a 20-minute walk away, with further access to the Northern Line and Overground services. There are also many brilliant bus connections from Brixton Road into central London.

Tenure: Leasehold
Lease Length: approx. 79 years remaining
Service Charge: approx. £500 per annum
Ground Rent: approx. £10 per annum
Council Tax: Band F

Please note that all areas, measurements and distances given in these particulars are approximate and rounded. The text, photographs and floor plans are for general guidance only. Inigo has not tested any services, appliances or specific fittings — prospective purchasers are advised to inspect the property themselves. All fixtures, fittings and furniture not specifically itemised within these particulars are deemed removable by the vendor.

History

The settlement of Stockwell developed around the open village green during the Middle Ages, with the wider area remaining rural and agricultural. The village was relatively isolated between two historic Roman roads which formed principal routes to and from the city of London, until it was deemed a manorial estate in the 13th century. A now-demolished, large moated manor house was built on the north side of the green at the centre of the settlement, with a well on the other side. The manor was demolished in 1756 and its site is recognised by the modern street name Moat Place. Stockwell settlement also included market gardens and John Tradescant’s botanical garden, built over in 1880 and commemorated in the nearby Tradescant Road.

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 still with easy access to their interests in the capitol. This began Stockwell’s transformation from rural hamlet to urban suburb.

The opening of Vauxhall Bridge in 1816 and the introduction of the railways in 1860 saw the area widely developed; in 1838, William Cox of Kennington began developing the area as a high-class estate, transforming it into a middle-class suburb with many stately villas. Later, several public, philanthropic institutions arrived, including an orphanage and college. By 1871, Ordnance Survey maps show the area of Stockwell Green surrounded by expanding roads of terraced housing and villas, supported by the opening of Stockwell Underground Station in 1890.

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. Today, Stockwell reflects its diverse and varied history through its diverse townscape, many conservation areas and fine listed buildings such as St Michael’s Church and Stockwell Bus Garage.