Granville Park, London, SE13

Imposing even when it was built in 1853 as a double-fronted detached home, it’s now triple-fronted and set well back from the road with views across the heath, complete with gated entrance, ample parking, double garage and a meticulously-restored exterior. The exterior comprises renovated London Stock Brickwork, beautiful bathstone balustrades, newly installed sash windows, and 60,000 reclaimed London Stock yellow bricks to create the new perimeter walls and substantial extension. Indications of the sympathetic restoration are the refurbished original steel horse post and repurposed original hay baskets as a planting feature.
The house totals nearly 9,000 sq ft, over 3,000 sq ft of this is hidden from the front elevation, there are six to seven bedrooms, five bathrooms, staff quarters, and multiple entertaining spaces across four floors.
The pristine exterior is testament to the three-year renovation undertaken by the house’s architect owner and the imaginative, exquisite interiors are equally impressive. This house is his latest expression of nearly thirty years of specialised restorations of Victorian Villas.
The grand entrance way with stained glass and beautiful corniced ceiling details leads through to an L-shaped triple reception space featuring Versaille oak parquet flooring, high ceilings, original fireplaces, ornate ceiling roses and cornicing. Large floor-to-ceiling sash windows provide views across the south facing 200 ft rear garden. This floor is complete with a generous fitted boot and cloakroom and WC.
There is multiple access to the lower floors but the most inventive and fun is the concealed bookcase doorway, operated via one of the display books. This reveals a stairway lined with exposed brickwork and irrigated living wall spawning three floors. There is a study and access to the garage on the remainder of the ground floor and a spiral staircase leads you to the entertainment room upstairs and spa, orangery and kitchens downstairs. Glass viewing panes in the floors assist with light and add a further fun element to this serious and expansive house.
The entertainment room has fantastic views across the heath towards Canary Wharf and over the rear garden and features a double height glass topped void, exposed brickwork, bar area, high tech in wall gas fireplace, and unofficial rooftop terrace providing maintenance access to the twin commercial boilers. Downstairs is perhaps the most indulgent feature of the house in the shape of the hotel worthy spa.
The spa benefits from a Himalayan salt sauna with infra-red treatment, further steam room with colour changing mood lighting, swimming pool with jet system, spa jacuzzi, two 3.5m linked cinema screens, state of the art sound system, which continues throughout the house, and seating area with bar. There is the option for a gym in this space if one removes the seating area, and the screens present an ideal cinema setting too.
Opposite the spa, to the south of the house, we have an Orangery with 4.5-metre high glass ceilings, exposed brickwork, wood burning stove, and Crittall doors leading to the expansive outdoor dining terrace or down the wide paved steps, past the koi carp pond down to the garden.
The landscaped garden reaches 200 ft and faces south west. There is a terrace and entertaining area separate from the lawn with a viewing window pond separating this from the main garden. The lawn section of the garden boasts a wilderness meadow garden and a studio to the rear ideal for an home office or artist’s studio.
The view of the back of the property is arguably more impressive than the front and gives a real sense of the scale of the house. An all-new external cast iron spiral staircase provides access to an elevated Victorian verandah.
Heading back into the house from the garden there is a bespoke kitchen with island, soft-close units, high-end appliances including a Lacanche Range cooker and American fridge. There is a generous walk-in pantry, utility room, wine cellar and laundry room. Staff quarters are to the east of this floor, comprising a large studio with kitchen, wet-room shower and toilet facilities with separate access from the front of the property and direct access to the rear garden. This area has also been designed to accommodate a wheelchair-dependent person, gaining access to the whole garden, dining, orangery and spa areas, and the whole of the ground floor reception rooms via the external lift.
Moving upstairs via the stone staircase and past the stained glass side terrace, the top two floors showcase the other bedrooms.
The principal suite on the first floor is undoubtedly the highlight, the same period features we saw in the reception, views over the fabulous gardens and heath, en-suite bathroom with reclaimed tub, separate rainfall shower, and discreet Japanese toilet. A walk through closet completes the suite; this can be accessed from both the main suite and the hallway.
The first floor is complete with another main bathroom and bedroom. The top floor is self-contained with four more bedrooms, two bathrooms, and an additional kitchen. Ideal as a floor for growing children distinctly separated from the “adults” first floor.
It should also be noted that the house is entirely accessible with an exterior lift for those who require it, this is multi propose and can be used for convenient deliveries via the service entrance, as well as garden access and maintenance.
An imposing yet discreet and secure family home.
An entirely unique opportunity to acquire a stand out property renovated to state of the art standards, for sale chain free.
A mansion, a literal piece of art south of the river with ideal connections across town.

Situation

Granville House provides a lovely stroll down Eliott Vale to picturesque Blackheath village, past imposing terraces of Georgian and Victorian villas to the right and ancient open heath grasslands to the left. The bustling village itself plays host to numerous boutiques, restaurants, pavement cafés and bars and has a vibe of gentler, past times. Alternatively, a stroll diagonally across the grassland heath takes you to the historically important Rangers House, the gateway into ancient Royal Greenwich Park, down past the Royal Observatory, the Meridian Line, Queens House and Royal Maritime museum, and on towards Sir Christopher Wren’s Royal Naval Hospital (aka Greenwich University).
Greenwich itself hosts an ancient indoor market, the Cutty Sark, numerous bars ,cafés and restaurants, and a DLR link to Canary wharf and beyond. There is also a fast river boat ferry service to London every 10 minutes.
The overground train hub of Lewisham Station is around half a mile away, providing fast trains to London Bridge in 8 minutes, Waterloo in 12 minutes, Charing Cross in 18 minutes and Cannon Street in 16 minutes. Alternatively, Lewisham also has direct DLR platforms to Canary Wharf. The new Thameslink service from Greenwich offers a direct London St Pancras service in 22 minutes, travelling on to Luton Airport in 45 minutes, Twice hourly.
By car you have easy access to the A2, the Blackwall Tunnel and the A20. Heathrow and Gatwick airport are also within easy reach via the M25 and London City Airport is just 8 miles away.
For those with young families, there is an excellent choice of outstanding private, state and Church Schools in the immediate area, a renowned Blackheath Conservatoire of Music, and for those seeking an alternative to the state examination system, a Steiner School.
Despite being so well connected, it is the timeless peaceful tranquillity offered by Granville House that is so enchanting (and unusual) for London. The open Heath and densely wooded residential surrounding area leave one unsure that one is actually residing in London. Bliss !