Castlebar Hill, London, W5

A slate-roofed, rendered brick house built in 1848, St Jude’s Cottage stands on the perimeter of the former country estate of Queen Victoria’s father, the Duke of Kent. Entered through a bespoke oak gate in the high wall enclosing the historic property, an immediate sense of retreat from the street life prevails in a discrete and verdant entry courtyard. At that point one can choose to enter the house, or proceed into a larger courtyard to gain access to the garden studio building added a decade ago. A flat-roofed building with five skylights, it shares a green wildflower roof garden with an adjacent 15’ storage building. The larger brick-lined courtyard provides a private and convenient outdoor transit space between the two buildings. It also serves as an elegant outdoor eating and entertainment space, and as a practical and protected play area for young children and pets.
The ground floor of this two-story dwelling consists of a spacious semi-open plan living and dining area adjoining a light-filled kitchen. Double aspect windows and multiple skylights in the adjoining kitchen flood the primary living space with natural light. The well-planned bespoke kitchen features blonde oak butcherblock countertops and birch plywood detailing. It is also fully equipped with state-of-the-art appliances including an oversized oven, wok ring and grill. The current owners have extended the original property to accommodate this balanced layout, seamlessly offering an efficient configuration for cooking and dining. A former exterior window is contained within an inner dividing wall creating a convenient and eccentric “hatch” from the kitchen to the dining area. Thoughtful long and short-term storage options have been designed throughout the ground area. An attractive powder room has been added to the far side of the kitchen area.

A semi-closed staircase on the ground floor leads to the family bathroom, and two unique bedrooms. Each bedroom has been equipped with skylights and closets with the larger bedroom enjoying a skylit walk-in wardrobe space ready for conversion to an ensuite bathroom. Traditional 19c cottage features have been repurposed, such as an original fireplace in the main bedroom, and one in the library/sitting room. The main family bathroom on this level features unusual storage solutions, a stone sink, and a long deep bathtub with rain shower.

Throughout the upper floor strategically placed full length mirrors and multiple skylights provide exceptional natural light as they illuminate and reflect light throughout. Recessed lighting with dimmers is installed for atmospheric and functional night-time illumination. Elements of the same Scandinavian birch plywood idiom as in the main rooms downstairs are repeated throughout the first floor giving the house as a whole a consistent and uplifting aesthetic.

The workshop/studio/home office building located in the main courtyard garden gives this property great flexibility for a live/work lifestyle. This unique and superbly lit space equipped with five large skylights has generous counter space suitable for four workstations. A huge sliding wall/door to the courtyard garden can be fully hidden within the wall of the building. A plywood platform bed behind the deep desk at the far end can be pulled down should the need arise for rest or a guest bed. The building also contains a combined laundry room and kitchenette with a sink, and a storage room with coat cupboards and shelves which could become an additional bathroom. The 35’ plus length of the back wall of the office areanwas once used as a naturally lit gallery for the owners’ art collection.

The London Borough of Ealing in West London has a rich history, dating back to Roman times. It is London’s third most populous borough, serving as a bridge between Inner and Outer London. The area has been occupied by different groups and cultures throughout history, including the Saxons and the Normans. During the 20th century, Ealing became known for its film industry; it was home to several film studios, including the famous Ealing Studios where the kitchen scenes of ‘Downton Abbey’ were filmed.

Ealing is now a diverse and multicultural area, known for its abundant greenery and open public parks. Pitshanger Park, within a ten-minute walk of the house, offers a lengthy track for walkers and runners, a par course, a bowling green, allotment gardens, play structures, and tennis courts. Independent schools abound with the top-rated Notting Hill and Ealing High School close at hand. Pitshanger Lane, the shopping and restaurant district within walking distance, won the title of ‘Great British High Street of the Year’ in 2015.

Ealing’s transport links are nothing less than superb, providing convenient access to destinations right across London and beyond. Ealing Broadway station, a short walk or bus ride from St Jude’s, offers the London Underground network with services on the Central, District, and Elizabeth lines, the latter reaching Heathrow in 25 Minutes, Paddington in 10 minutes and, from May 2023, Liverpool Street in 20 minutes. Oxford Circus in Central London can be reached in less than 30 minutes. Ealing Common Station is also close by with the Piccadilly line to Heathrow and Green Park also taking less than 30 minutes. The A40 leading to the M40 is within a 7- minute drive.