The Heights II, London BR3

Located in leafy Beckenham, this tall mid-century townhouse stretches over three floors and has luscious green views. Designed by Raglan Squire in the early 1960s, its brick frontage and communal gardens are inspired by the principles of Span estates. Offset storeys climb through the house, from the wide, flowing living spaces on the lower floors to the sleeping quarters upstairs. There is a beautifully green courtyard garden at the rear, with access to Beckenham Place Park via a private path.



The Architect



Raglan Squire was one of the founder members of Arcon, a practice that began work in 1944. Arcon designed the pioneering ‘Arcon pre-fab', which became the second most manufactured prefabricated home in the UK throughout the 1940s. Edric Neel, one of Squire’s partners, previously worked with Wells Coates and Denys Lasdun, and their modernist influence was clear in the practice’s work.



Squire was inspired by the work of Eric Lyons and Span. Their influence is clear in the schemes he developed independently in Beckenham in the late 1950s, with terraced houses laid out around communal gardens. The Heights is a beautiful example of his work during this period.



The Tour



The house is approached via a quiet private street that winds through the terraces of The Heights, passing communal gardens and garages.



Occupying a secluded position at the back of the estate, the house has leafy treetop views of the park to the rear. Its brick façade is accented with white panels and a green garage door; a recessed entrance is set below the lintel of the floor above.



From the wide hall, a set of steps leads up to the kitchen - the start of the interconnected half-levels throughout the house. Wide sliding doors open to the garden, connecting the house with the outdoors. Crisp white cabinets and pale yellow walls imbue a bright feeling to this light room; engineered oak floors run throughout the hallway, kitchen, and living room on the next floor.



The main living room spans the entire width of the house and has expansive windows overlooking the front garden. This spacious south-facing room gets light throughout the day.



Offset from the living room is the main bedroom, with views of the garden and park. Original built-in wardrobes line the left wall, and there is an en suite bathroom.



Skylights above the third-floor landing ensure daylight reaches deep into the interior. There are three bedrooms on this level; one is currently used as a striking, almost treehouse-like office space. Shelving wraps the walls, and deep built-in wardrobes provide plenty of storage space. A second bathroom leads off the landing with a large walk-in shower.



There is a cellar beneath the kitchen, and to the right is a garage used for storage and as a utility space.



Outdoor Space



The garden has been beautifully landscaped, with a paved area just beyond the kitchen with space for a table and chairs. Steps climb to the back of the garden amid raised beds filled with lavender, palms and grasses. Ivy climbs around the fences, and a beautiful acer sits in the corner. The whole garden has a leafy outlook of the mature oak trees in the park beyond.



A gate at the back of the garden gives access to a private path leading from The Heights to Beckenham Place Park. The estate also has communal gardens with lawns and mature beds.



The Area



The house backs onto Beckenham Place Park, which, at 96 hectares, is Lewisham's largest park. It is a wonderful green oasis with wild swimming. It is home to the Homestead Café, for proper beer, pizza, and Square Mile coffee.



Kelsey Park lies a 20-minute walk to the south of Foxgrove Road, where there are ornamental gardens, mature trees and woodland, all set around a central lake home to a wide array of waterfowl, including Heron and Kingfisher.



Foxgrove Road sits amid a triangle of stations. Beckenham Junction is the closest and runs services to London Blackfriars in around 19 minutes, London Victoria in just 22 minutes, and London Bridge in 36 minutes. Ravensbourne Station is 10 minutes’ walk from the house and runs services to Elephant and Castle in around 25 minutes and London Blackfriars in approximately 31 minutes. New Beckenham station runs services into Cannon Street; all stations are in Zone 4. Beckenham Junction is also connected to the tram network that runs towards Wimbledon.



Tenure: Freehold/ Service Charge: Approx. £1,500 per annum / Council Tax Band: F