Devon Mansions, Tooley Street, London SE1

This one-bedroom apartment lies within Devon Mansions, a 19th-century mansion block in Bermondsey, south-east London. Built in 1875 by James Hartnoll, the apartment has been immaculately reconfigured by its current architect owners, who have made use of tactile materials and considered details. Maltby Street Market is minutes away from the apartment, while London Bridge station can be reached in 10 minutes on foot.

The Tour

Devon Mansions' Victorian stock-brick exterior belies the bright contemporary interior profile that characterises this apartment. It sits on the raised ground floor of the building, maximising ease of access without compromising privacy. On entry, there is an immediate sense of tranquillity; high ceilings give way to a neutral colour palette throughout, and the owners have opened up the latter part of the hallway to maximise light and space. There is an area for coat storage neatly placed in the existing foyer.

A line of wooden pegs runs from the hall into the kitchen, deftly elongating its sense of depth. Here, the floorboards have been meticulously sanded, filled and washed with Danish Lye, a glazed door panel and fan lights ensure light is transmitted through each of the carefully configured areas. While built-in cupboards offer ample storage, the units are unfitted, and salvaged materials have been masterfully repurposed to create an exceptionally unique workspace. Reclaimed Iroko from Lassco has been repurposed as a cabinet with beautifully inset drawers and mounted onto a bespoke stainless-steel frame to accommodate Alpes-Inox flip-up gas hobs and a separate sink. Adjacent is a stainless steel floating unit with space for crockery.

A contemporary reimagining of the scullery has been tucked into a storage space just outside of the kitchen. The double-width alcove is home to the double fridge-freezers and a washer-dryer, as well as neatly arranged pantry shelves for additional storage. Opposite the kitchen lies the living room, which, care of its south-west-facing aspect, receives a beautiful afternoon glow through its tall window.

The bedroom is conversely set to receive the morning light and has a walk-in wardrobe with double-height hanging space. At the far end is the bathroom, panelled in rough sawn solid pine, which has durable Medite Tricoya Extreme MDF surrounding the bath and overhead shower, a useful storage cupboard, and a large mirror that reflects light around the room.

The Area

Community-run space Fairing Green lies directly at the rear of the apartment. It comprises a mixed planted courtyard-style garden with mature London Plane trees and raised beds.

Maltby Street Market is a few minutes’ walk away and has a plethora of food stalls as well as more established restaurants under the Ropewalk arches, such as Bonvino Enoteca and Bar Tozino. 40 Maltby Street is also a local favourite, supplied by natural wine importer Gergovie Wines. A host of taprooms and bars on Druid Street, collectively known as ‘Bermondsey Beer Mile’, offers a wide selection of craft ales and other drinks.

There are free public tennis courts around the corner in Tanner Street Park. Bermondsey Street is about nine minutes away on foot and is home to the Comptoir Gourmand, The Giddy Grocer, The Watch House, José and Pizzaro, as well as numerous other cafés, bars and restaurants. There are some excellent galleries and museums nearby, including Drawing Room, White Cube Bermondsey and the Fashion and Textile Museum.

Borough Market is approximately a 17-minute walk away and houses some of London’s finest traders of fruit, vegetables and fresh produce; Monmouth Coffee, Ginger Pig and Brindisa are stalwarts.

Many of London’s most illustrious cultural institutions including Tate Modern, the Southbank Centre, The Bridge Theatre, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre and The Tower of London are all within walking distance of the apartment.

London Bridge station is around a 10-minute walk for Northern and Jubilee lines and National Rail services nationwide. There are excellent direct bus links to Elephant and Castle, Euston, Liverpool Street, Shoreditch, Canada Water and Hampstead Heath. The city is an eight-minute cycle across London Bridge.

Tenure: Leasehold
Lease Length: Approx. 104 years
Service Charge: Approx. £1,392 per annum (includes buildings insurance, freeholders' administration or management charges, repairs to shared areas and the outside of the building, communal cleaning services and maintenance of the communal garden)
Ground Rent: Approx. £10 per annum
Council Tax Band: B