Burton Close, Thornton Heath, CR7

This is a rare gem; a genuinely characterful two-bedroom, two-bathroom duplex set within a converted Victorian pump house, a landmark building of yellow stock brick with soaring arched windows and period detail at every turn. Arranged over two floors and running to just over 1,000 sq ft, it comes with a large private garden, off-street parking, a private entrance, a share of freehold and is tucked away in a quiet location on the Crystal Palace/South Norwood border.

You enter through a handsome panelled front door set beneath an arched fanlight, into a hallway lit by a tall, round-arched window — an introduction that tells you straight away this isn't a standard conversion, made even more apparent by those door surrounds, they really are something else! The reception room is a wonderful space, 16'8 x 13'3, with high ceilings, ornate cornicing and the building's signature round-arched windows, one of them set with a panel of coloured glass that throws light around on a sunny day. Wood flooring runs underfoot, and there's easy room to both sit and dine.

Linking the two floors is the original cast-iron spiral staircase, an intricate, almost sculptural piece of black ironwork lit by another arched window — far and away the standout feature in a home that isn't short of them. The kitchen (13'0 x 8'7) makes the most of the building's height with a part-vaulted ceiling overhead; it's a practical, well-kept galley with shaker-style units, wood-effect worktops, an oven and gas hob, and space for a table to eat at. A bathroom with a full bath completes the ground floor.

Up the spiral, the first floor sits within the tower and under the mansard, which gives both bedrooms characterful sloping ceilings and skylights that frame the sky. The principal bedroom is a generous double (16'4 x 13'0) with extensive wardrobes built neatly into the eaves, while the second bedroom (11'9 x 10'6) is a comfortable double in its own right with good storage. A shower room serves this floor, making it a proper two-bathroom home.

Outside, there is a large private garden, mostly laid to lawn with a paved terrace for sitting out and dining, along with a separate workshop/shed (around 128 sq ft) that earns its keep as a studio, store or home office. To the front, the building stands in its own grounds with off-street parking, which is no small thing around here.

Location-wise, Burton Close occupies the quieter, residential part of the CR7/ SE25 border, within easy reach of both South Norwood and Crystal Palace. Norwood Junction is close by, with direct trains to London Bridge in around 13 minutes alongside services to Victoria and connections right across south London, and the high street has come on noticeably in recent years, its restaurants, cafes and independents growing in both quality and number. The Triangle is just over a mile off, around 25 minutes on foot or a few minutes by bike. Closer to home, South Norwood Lakes is on hand for dog walks, and the revamped Grangewood Park, with its new tennis courts and playground, adds plenty of green space on the doorstep. For anyone putting down roots, Cypress Primary is a very short walk away, more or less at the end of Ross Road and just down Cypress Road.

In short, this is a rare thing — a two-bedroom, two-bathroom home with real architectural character, a large garden, and parking, in a converted Victorian pump house that you simply won't find the equivalent of elsewhere. One for a buyer who wants something with a story to tell.

Parking - Off street