MAGNIFICENT SEVEN-BEDROOMED HOUSE ON HISTORIC STREET UP FOR SALE AT £4.350.000
One of the most beautiful and sought-after houses in the Richmond Borough and on one of the most historic streets is up for sale for £4.350.000, it was confirmed today.
The seven-bedroomed, five-bathroom end of terrace Georgian property in Montpelier Row, St Margarets, which, over the years has been the street where Who guitarist Pete Townsend, writer Walter De La Mare and poet Alfred Tennyson have all lived.
The full description on the Knight Frank website reads:
“This impressive period property is arranged over four floors offering close to 5,000 sq ft approximately and provides luxurious accommodation throughout and fantastic lateral family space.
“Due to its prime position overlooking Marble Hill Park, you are within walking distance of the River Thames, some outstanding schools and the many famous attractions that make this area a very special place to live.
“The family home has been significantly updated by the current owners and has been extensively refurbished to create a remarkable family home with incredible volume, space and natural light.
“On arriving at this desirable address, you are instantly impressed by the Georgian Row and the splendid features you associate with houses of this era.
“Over the ground floor, there is a generous front panelled hallway featuring a period working fireplace, a pair of sash windows overlooking Montpelier Row, wooden floors and cloakroom underneath the grand staircase.
“The ground floor panelled reception room includes triple sash windows overlooking Montpelier Row, and wooden floors.
“To the rear of the ground floor, there is an extended kitchen/ dining room with a bespoke design kitchen including built in appliances from Fisher & Paykel, a Rangemaster cooker and a Belfast sink.
“The timber bi-folding doors lead onto the south west-facing garden which measures over 45 ft with a delightful array of mature trees, plants and shrubs, and has a patio area perfect for entertaining family and friends in the warmer spring/summer months, also with direct access to the double parking spaces. To complete this floor, there is a WC and stairs down to the lower ground floor.
“Moving to the first floor, there is an incredible reception room with six sash windows overlooking Marble Hill Park and a working fire including a period fireplace and panelled walls.
“The stylish principal suite has been re-designed by the current owners and comprises a walk-in dressing room with built in bespoke wardrobes, a bedroom overlooking the garden and a modern bathroom with a freestanding bath and separate shower. A generous panelled study with full sash window overlooking the garden, which can also be used as a bedroom, completes this floor.
“The top floor comprises of four double bedrooms and three bathrooms (one being ensuite and two family bathrooms) and a further study/ bedroom perfect for working at home.
“The lower ground floor provides an excellent floor for visiting guests or a separate flat as it has a fully fitted modern kitchen with a reception room and direct access onto Montpelier Row. There are also two additional bedrooms, a family bathroom, patio area, boiler cupboard, and fully fitted utility room with further access upstairs into the kitchen.
“Montpelier Row is positioned within close proximity of Richmond town centre and many of the area’s superb attractions such as the River Thames, Marble Hill Park and Richmond Park with its 2,500 acres of Royal parkland.
“You can enjoy a lovely riverside walk to nearby Twickenham, passing the recently restored Orleans Gallery. You will also find good local shops located in Church Street, Twickenham.
“Local transport links include numerous bus routes to surrounding areas, plus frequent trains to Central London via South West Railways from St. Margarets and Richmond stations and London Underground’s District Line.
“The Hammerton Ferry is also approximately a five minute walk away, which provides easy access to Ham House, the Ham Polo ground, Richmond Park and Petersham nursery, all situated within walking distance on the other side of the river.
“The property is well-placed for access to the A316/M3, M4 and M25 motorways. Heathrow Airport can be reached easily by road, train or bus. There are also some outstanding schools in the area, a number within walking distance, both state and independent sectors.”
Both Alfred Lord Tennyson and Walter De La Mare lived at some point in Montpelier Row. Walter De La Mare moved into Southend House in 1940 and became a tenant of the Sedgwick Family. Although he spent much of the war time years away from the house, he loved the house and kept his collection of antiques here, as well as his books on crime.
Many of his closest friends and literary friends came to visit him here including Joyce Grenfell, Leonard Clark and Richard Church. De La Mare died at Southend on 22 June 1956.
Tennyson moved into Chapel House on Montpelier Row in 1851 and stayed there with his wife until 1853.
This was at the time that he had been made Poet Laureate. His son Hallam was born at Chapel House and baptised in the local St Mary’s Church.
However, Tennyson soon found that Twickenham was too close to the ever expanding London.
The railway had recently arrived in Richmond and Twickenham and with it brought a ;large number of visitors. Although he cherished his visits from his fellow literary friends, W M Thackeray and Edward Fitzgerald he decided to leave Montpelier Row and leave it to his widowed mother, Elizabeth Tennyson while he moved to the Isle of Wight.
Peter Townsend of the band, The Who, lived in a house on the row for a number of years, and his wife continued to live there after their divorce from 1987 to 2004, converting the coach house at the end of the garden into a recording studio.
According to a Literary Landscapes website “Montpelier Row was no doubt the home of poems, prose and pop songs and fine Georgian houses.”