The Old Bookbinders, 3 Barnsbury Square, London, N1

Built in the early 1900s as a bookbinding warehouse on the edge of an iconic garden square.

Description

These wonderfully spacious one-bedroom apartment on Barnsbury Square have been exquisitely realised in the recent redevelopment of a former bookbinding workshop. A blended palette of smooth wood and quartz paired with rough graphite and brush brass fittings establish a richly layered finish.

Wide warehouse windows cast beautiful, ever-changing shadows throughout each apartment as the sun tracks across the building. The restaurants, cafes, and independent shops of Highbury and Angel are a short walk away.

The apartment is centered around the large open-plan kitchen/ living room with soaring ceilings, wide warehouse windows, sleek tiled kitchen and engineered wooden flooring throughout.

The bedroom has beautifully crafted built-in wardrobes ensure plenty of storage space, and warming carpet runs across the floors.

The bathroom is finished in rich red glazed tiles, subtle terrazzo details and large-form porcelain tiles across the floors.

Location

The Square
Barnsbury Square is in the heart of the Barnsbury Conservation Area, with an attractive, well-maintained central garden bordered by mature trees. The square was the site of a medieval grange belonging to the Canons of St Paul’s. It was later owned by Ralph de Berners – where ‘Barnsbury’ gets its name. The 19th-century Lord of the manor, William Tufnell, parcelled up in the surrounding lands for development by a variety of builders who mapped the squares, streets and crescents maintained today. Together the surrounding streets of Regency and Victorian architecture chart the changing preferences from terraces to villas throughout the century. Much of this original architecture is wonderfully intact today.

The square, as it appears now, was largely developed as part of the Bishop Estate from 1834 onwards and is now a mixture of preserved Victorian villas and sensitive modern additions. This building is an unusual outlier, built in the early 1900s. Its architectural language is distinctive and more industrial than its neighbours but shares the same generous proportions.

The Area
Barnsbury Square is just minutes from the boutiques, cafes and eateries of Upper Street, which is home to an abundance of amenities, from Ottolenghi to Gail’s, the Almeida Theatre to The Old Red Lion Theatre & Pub. The charming Compton Arms and the wonderful Union Chapel are a couple of minutes’ walk from the house.

Islington High Street and the excellent Camden Passage are also close by. The area has excellent gastropubs, including The Drapers Arms and The Albion. Corbin and King’s Bellanger is nearby on Islington Green.

The much-admired shops and restaurants of Highbury Barn are just north, through the green open space of Highbury Fields – which has tennis courts, a playground and a swimming pool. King’s Cross and Coal Drops Yard are also within easy reach.

Several quality schools and universities are within easy reach.

The area enjoys excellent access to public transport, including several main bus routes to the City and central London. The Victoria Line at Highbury & Islington is a few minutes’ walk from the house, and the Northern Line is available at Angel. The Eurostar at King’s Cross St Pancras is also easily accessible, as are London’s airports.

Square Footage: 552 sq ft
Leasehold with approximately 250 years remaining.