London SE3£675,000 Share of Freehold

The Paragon II

Amongst the most significant and impressive examples of Georgian domestic architecture in the country

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Perched on the first floor of Grade I-listed The Paragon, this light-filled two-bedroom apartment takes a prime position in Blackheath. Hugely significant, the terrace was described by architectural historian Nikolaus Pevsner as “one of the finest Georgian crescents in England”. Though reconfigured in a largely contemporary manner, this apartment retains its original charm, particularly in the incredible tripartite window at the front of its double-height open-plan living space.

Setting the Scene

Construction started on The Paragon in 1794 and continued until January 1806. The project was a partnership between architect Michael Searles, associate and contractor William Dyer and timber merchant and landowner John Cator, who bought the 300-acre Wricklemarsh Estate in the 1780s with a view to developing the land. The Paragon was the first of these developments and now forms the northern boundary of the Cator Estate, a 282-acre complex of private roads and exceptionally high-quality architecture from the Georgian period through to contemporary developments. For more information, please see the History section.

The Grand Tour

The houses that make up The Paragon are hewn from multicoloured London stock-brick walls and ornamented with stone dressings with slightly concave fronts. This allows for an exceptional quality of light to stream in through the houses’ heritage sash windows. The blocks are linked by Roman-style Doric colonnades, and wrought iron railings link the columns.

Entry is to a communal hallway, where stairs reach to this apartment’s private entrance. Behind is a smart entrance lobby from which each bright room branches out.

At the rear, the spectacular open-plan living space unfolds, demonstrating the Georgian understanding of space and volume. A dining area has been beautifully configured in front of a curved tripartite bay window, beneath a well-preserved ceiling rose and an original picture rail that emphasises the room’s proportions. Behind is the sitting space, orientated around a carved fireplace.

The kitchen runs along the front part of the room, formed of chalky sky-blue cabinetry with dark marble countertops. Thoughtfully left open to the rest of the room, the kitchen furthers the plan’s easygoing, interconnected feel.

The larger of the two bedrooms has a wonderful bespoke green shelving unit that matches the ornate period tiles surrounding a crescent-shaped hearth. The second bedroom is a cocooning space, lit by a large sash window flanked by embrasure shutters. A rattan cupboard and bookshelves provide plenty of storage.

Uniquely bright, the shower room has been, as with the rest of the apartment, thoughtfully updated; playful terrazzo tiling runs underfoot, while cream tiles line the walls.

The Great Outdoors

Residents have access to the sprawling communal gardens in the front and the rear of the building, which are largely laid to lawn save for some ancient and stately trees. Here, an annual residents’ summer barbecue brings together the Paragon Court community.

Out and About

The Paragon is on the leafy periphery of Blackheath Park, where a stroll through the Queen’s Orchard or the Herb Garden is particularly lovely on a sunny day – as is a trip to the astonishing 17th-century Royal Observatory.

The delights of Blackheath Village are a 12-minute walk from house, via the Heath. A myriad of independent restaurants, cafés and bars line the high street, including Le Bar a Vin, which serves a selection of cheese and charcuterie boards alongside its excellent cellar offerings. Blackheath farmers’ market runs every Sunday, offering an array of vegetables, fruits and freshly baked pastries.

Just across Greenwich Park is a plethora of high-end local artisanal shops, including Creaky Shed greengrocers, Drings butchers, the self-explanatory Cheeseboard, Royal Teas café, Greenwich Natural Health, Maritime Books and two excellent pubs in the Richard the First and Prince of Greenwich.

Greenwich’s Old Town, famous for its maritime history, has an excellent selection of restaurants, pubs and shops, as well as a Picturehouse cinema and a theatre. The Old Royal Naval College, designed by Sir Christopher Wren in the 18th century, hosts a popular programme of events in the gardens, including concerts, an open-air theatre and a jazz festival. A walk along the nearby banks of the Thames passes by much-loved riverside pubs The Trafalgar and The Cutty Sark.

There is an excellent range of local schools. Private options include Heath House Preparatory School and Blackheath High School GDST, while state-run John Ball Primary School is a short walk away and has an Ofsted “Outstanding” rating. There is also a local Montessori option.

Blackheath Station is a 12-minute walk away across Blackheath Common, running rail services to London Bridge and London Cannon Street (taking 12 minutes and 16 minutes respectively), with London Victoria 26 minutes away. Greenwich Station is a lovely 25-minute walk through Greenwich Park, with further services to Canary Wharf and Bank on the DLR as well as to Blackfriars and London St Pancras on the Thameslink. The Thames Clipper boat service also runs from Greenwich Pier, with services to Canary Wharf and central London.

For more inspiration, why not look to The Modern House’s guide to Blackheath?

Tenure: Share of Freehold
Lease Length: Approx. 999 years remaining
Service Charge: Approx. £2,756 per annum
Council Tax Band: D

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 original 19th-century purchasers of the 14 semi-detached houses on The Paragon enjoyed the use of nine acres of land. This provided a small amount of parkland and pleasure ground, along with kitchen gardens, fish ponds and pasture for dairy cows. As London expanded and Blackheath became an inner-city suburb, the houses changed hands and uses, with one becoming a school and another a hotel. During this time, much of the purity of design was lost and incongruous additions were made.

The buildings suffered badly from bomb damage during World War II. However, following the war, architect Charles Bernard Brown valiantly made it his cause to save the buildings. From 1947-58, the whole crescent was restored and converted to the apartments that lie here today. Missing interiors and brickwork were replaced ‘like for like’, using salvage recovered from the great Georgian townhouses of central London that were bombed or demolished after the war. A plaque on No.15 shows the block received the 1951 Festival of Britain ‘Award for Merit’.

Over the years, the Paragon has been home to several notable figures, including Princess Charlotte of Wales, daughter of King George IV, who is believed to have stayed there during her childhood. Like many historical London buildings, the Paragon is surrounded by rumors of secret tunnels, perhaps used for smuggling or escape during times of unrest.