Dulwich Road, London SE24

Built in the late 19th century, this handsome one-bedroom apartment in Herne Hill borders the verdant expanses of Brockwell Park. Bay windows bathe the reception room and bedroom with light, while soaring ceilings amplify the sense of volume. A set of original French doors in the living room opens to reveal a private section of the garden below, embraced by borders of mature trees and shrubbery. Herne Hill rail station is under five-minutes walk away, with easy access to the city.



Setting the Scene



Once part of the ancient manor of Milkwell, Herne Hill was first referenced in 1789. In the early 19th century, the area was affluent and semi-rural, and largely made up of grand villas in sprawling private grounds. The area was popular with the upper classes; one of its most well-known residents was John Ruskin, widely regarded as one of the great Victorian thinkers and art critics.



The construction of the railway in the 1860s transformed the area into a bustling suburb, and the Suburban Village and General Dwellings Company built a series of terraced houses in the area. Today, Herne Hill is known for its well-preserved Victorian and Edwardian architecture, as well as its proximity to the leafy Brockwell Park, itself a public space since 1892.



The Grand Tour



Built of London stock brick with intricate red brick detailing, this apartment sits at the end of a neat Victorian terrace. Under an ornate brick archway, a shared entrance on the raised ground floor leads to the apartment’s front door, opening to reveal a welcoming hallway drenched in Skimming Stone by Farrow & Ball, with parquet flooring.



An expansive reception room sits to the rear, flooded with light from a magnificent bay window at one end. Timber-framed French doors with original shutters open onto a private garden area below, its lush greenery framed by the bay window. High ceilings with neat cornicing create a refined sense of grandeur, while fitted shelving is perfect for displaying books and photographs. Coir carpets here and in the bedroom add to the material palette.



In the kitchen, smart white cabinets are topped with beech work surfaces. Open shelving provides additional storage space, and there is a pretty blue and white tiled splashback. Parquet flooring runs underfoot, and a large sash window looks out toward the garden. Appliances include a Neff oven with a gas hob and an integrated Bosch dishwasher.



A generous double bedroom occupies the front of the plan. The room is imbued with a wonderful quality of light pouring in from a wide bay window. Lofty ceilings amplify the sense of space, and floor-to-ceiling fitted storage stretches across one wall.



The plan is completed by a light-filled bathroom with a sliding pocket door and a reeded glass window. It has tiled walls, parquet flooring and a stone washbasin, and the bathtub is clad in timber panelling.



The Great Outdoors



At the rear of the house, intricate wrought-iron steps descend from the reception room to a private, south-facing section of the garden. A raised area is largely laid to lawn, and the space is bordered by a variety of mature trees and shrubbery. An immense wisteria climbs the rear elevation, reaching full bloom each Spring.



Out and About



The house is ideally positioned within Herne Hill, a lively pocket of south London known for its village-life atmosphere, home to a wide variety of restaurants, shops and cafes. For dining out, local favourites include Llewelyn's, Naughty Piglets and Lulu’s. Blackbird Bakery and Herne Hill Books are also popular.



At the heart of the bustling pedestrianised Station Square, Herne Hill Market opens every Sunday between 10am and 4pm and prides itself on selling locally sourced produce; there are more than 50 stalls trading food, plants, vintage clothes, records and arts and crafts, all from within 100 miles of Herne Hill.



Brockwell Park is just behind the apartment, and is one of London’s best-loved green spaces. It has a lido, a 50-metre pool, a Grade II-listed art deco pavilion, a café, tennis courts, and a walled garden. Each summer, it hosts the Lambeth Country Show and an array of music festivals.

A little further afield, Dulwich Village is within walking distance and is home to the Dulwich Picture Gallery, designed by Sir John Soane and one of England’s oldest public galleries.



Herne Hill station is around a five-minute walk from the house, with direct railway links to London Victoria in 10 minutes and St Pancras International in 21 minutes. The area is also well served for bus routes into central London. Brixton Underground station is a 19-minute walk away, with Victoria line services to Highbury & Islington in under 20 minutes.



Tenure: Leasehold (Right to Manage) / Service Charge: Approx. £0 per annum / Lease Length: 95 years / Ground Rent: Approx. £0 per annum / Council Tax Band: D