George Lane, London SE13

Unfolding across three stories, this five-bedroom Victorian house lies on a residential street in Hither Green, in an area surrounded by green spaces. Recent updates have included a ground floor extension, along with the addition of raw plaster walls, quarry tiling, stainless-steel work surfaces and bespoke birch ply joinery. There is a large garden at the rear, with both lawned and bricked areas. Hither Green and Ladywell stations are both nearby and run regular services to central London in less than 15 minutes.



The Tour



Painted white brickwork, an original cornice and bay windows define this house’s handsome façade. A reclaimed solid oak door salvaged from Mayfair opens to reveal a generous entrance hall with original pine floorboards underfoot.



The front of the plan is occupied by the first of two expansive reception rooms. Filled with light, its soaring ceilings are traced by an original picture rail and embellished with a pretty ceiling rose. There is built-in birch ply shelving, while cork flooring extends into the second reception room. The two spaces are divided by beautiful reclaimed timber and glass double doors, salvaged from Sydenham library.



In the second reception room, an emerald-green archway leads through to the kitchen and dining area. Here, a considered combination of colour and material includes quarry tiles, bespoke plywood cabinetry, stainless-steel work surfaces, exposed painted steel and pockets of pink and green. The central island and main work surface are from the original Forza Win restaurant in Peckham, with custom birch ply additions installed beneath by Ammonite Designs. There is an Smeg range cooker and commercial grade hood, an integrated Miele dishwasher dishwasher, and underfloor heating. Skylights have been added above the dining area, and bifold doors opens onto the garden making this space perfect for family meals or entertaining. The ground floor also features a utility room, guest WC and stairs leading down to a large cellar, currently used as a darkroom and storage area.



The main stairs lead to the first floor, where there are three/four bedrooms and a large bathroom with striking tiles from Milagros. The principal bedroom has a large bay window and bespoke birch ply wardrobes. One of the rooms on this level is used as a music studio and has a tall picture window framing treetop views. Above the door is a stained-glass transom from Retrouvius. Another double bedroom also has bespoke ply wardrobes while a further, smaller room at the front is currently configured as a home office.



There are two double bedrooms on the second floor; one has full-height doors that open to a Juliet balcony, while the other has skylights. A second bathroom here has quarry floor tiles and a roll-top bathtub.



Outdoor Space



A generous garden extends to the rear of the house, filled with productive fruit trees including apple, plum and vine along with a raised bed. There is a large lawned area, as well as a custom-built brick terrace toward the rear, currently with a large climbing frame installed.



The Area



George Lane is a quiet residential street that shares an entrance to Mountsfield Park. It has tennis courts, a café, community garden, and offers panoramic views toward Crystal Palace in one direction, and the City of London in the other. Lewisham Park is also close by; it is a serene space filled with pretty cherry and horse chestnut trees, as well as a variety of colourful flowers and shrubs.



Ladywell Fields is a 10-minute walk away. Its 54-acre park is part of the Waterlink Way and is home to the River Ravensbourne, a nature reserve, a skate park, an adventure playground and several rare mature trees.



The house is within easy reach of the numerous cafés, restaurants and bars in the area, including Good Hope, Cafe Green Vietnamese, Saka Maka Indian restaurant, Yard Sale and Sapore Vero Pizza as well as Wilson’s for exceptional small plates.



Good Hope is a deli-style shop selling natural wines, fresh and dried goods with a sustainable focus. Ed Baker offers up delightful artisan breads, while Via d'Oro and The Larder are much-loved delis. The Fox and Firkin pub hosts a variety of revered live music events throughout the year and serves pizza from its large garden. The Ladywell Tavern is another popular neighbourhood pub, also with a garden.



The schooling options in the area are excellent, including Brindishe Green Primary, Gordonbrock Primary, St Mary’s Primary School, Prendergast Ladywell Primary and Senior Schools, as well as St Dunstan’s College independent school.



Hither Green station is a 10-minute walk from the house, and runs regular services to London Bridge (10 minutes), Waterloo East (16 minutes) and Charing Cross (20 minutes). Ladywell and Catford stations are also close by, and there are plenty of bus and cycle routes that serve the area.

Council Tax Band: G