Upper Brockley Road, Upper Brockley Road

Built in the 1840s, this two/three-bedroom house in the Brockley Conservation Area has undergone an exemplary rear extension by its architect and cartographer owners. A long private garden with a terrace seamlessly unfolds from the kitchen, acting as an extended living space in the warmer months. Around an 11-minute walk from both Brockley and St Johns stations, along with Deptford Bridge (14-minutes) and New Cross (16-minutes), the house is conveniently positioned for access to central London, as well as the popular culinary spots along Deptford High Street.



The Tour



Accessed from one side and set behind a modest front garden planted with a hornbeam hedge, the front door leads directly into a hall.



The living room lies to the front of the plan, still with its original proportions; built at the start of the Victorian period, its extant period features are more Georgian in nature. An elegant margin-light sash window sits at the centre, externally framed with an ornamental pointed pediment. A light-touch approach has been employed here and throughout, with particular attention paid to restoring the original features of the house, including drop-down timber shutters and floorboards. A separate study - or guest bedroom - is accessed from the hall, with views over the courtyard.



Steps descend into a contemporary kitchen, where an exaggerated sense of height is granted by a pitched ceiling above. Douglas fir beams and extensive glazing run above, restoring a sense of dialogue between outdoors and in. This is further enhanced by vast sliding doors to the rear that allow for uninterrupted views over the terrace and private garden. A quartz worktop (chosen for its coolness, an asset in pastry-making) is paired with a predominance of Ash woodwork, along with a Bosch induction hob, oven and integrated fridge/freezer. There is also a downstairs WC, conveniently positioned opposite an area for storing coats and shoes.



Stairs ascend to the upper level, where two bedrooms lie, each with a fireplace and original sash window. The current owners have deftly altered the original layout, mirroring the panelling from the ground floor to create a hallway to the bathroom beyond, as well as opening up a gallery over the stairwell and creating a circularity to the upper floor.



The rooms share a bathroom, where hand-painted, Delft-inspired tiles run above the bathtub. There is also a smart freestanding basin and a large cupboard with space for utilities.



Outside Space



The house has a large stretch of private garden, flanked by mature hedges on either side. Immediately from the kitchen is a terrace with brick pavers, which steps down to mature planted sections.



Along one side of the house is a useful lean-to for storing bikes and garden items, with direct access to the garden from the street.



The Area



Upper Brockley Road is a short walk from an offering of celebrated cafés, restaurants and bars, including the reputable Browns of Brockley coffee shop, Joyce natural wine bar, L’Oculto for tapas, Good as Gold with its evening menu and Mauby for cocktails and small plates. There is a renowned farmers’ market every Saturday at Brockley Market, offering a wide range of organic produce alongside food trucks and wine merchants.



Hilly Fields is a 15-minute walk away; arguably one of the finest parks in south-east London, it has expansive green spaces, elevated views across the capital, as well as a café, playground, nature reserve, tennis courts and basketball courts. Brockley and Ladywell Cemetery is also within easy reach, spanning 37 acres of beautiful green space protected within the Brockley Conservation Area.



Nearby Deptford, recently voted one of the world’s coolest high streets, has plenty of shops, restaurants and cafés. Deptford Market Yard, a recently launched collection of independent shops and restaurants set within and around Deptford’s refurbished railway arches, is nearby. Goldsmiths University is also within walking distance, along with Goldsmiths CCA, designed by Turner-prize-winning architects Assemble.



There is a good selection of schools nearby, including Myatt Garden Primary and Ashmead Primary - four minutes and 10 minutes' walk respectively - or Haberdashers' Hatcham College at secondary level.



The house is within easy walking distance of five stations. St Johns station is just over 10 minutes away on foot and runs direct services to London Bridge and Cannon Street. Brockley station is around 11 minutes away and runs London Overground services north and south; from here, the Jubilee line can be joined at Canada Water. Brockley station also runs direct services to London Bridge in around 10 minutes via Southern Rail. Deptford Bridge, 14 minutes on foot, operates the DLR for connections to Canary Wharf, Bank and National Rail services, while New Cross - 16 minutes' walk away - runs various National Rail and Overground services.



Council Tax Band: D