Set in the heart of leafy Forest Gate, this substantial end-of-terrace house abounds with charming original details and chic modern interventions. Built c.1865 during the expansion of London into the surrounding suburbs, the house is noticeably wider than most city terraces, with generous proportions afforded by fewer constraints on building space. With five bedrooms arranged across three floors as well as cellar space and a large garden, the house’s plan is expansive, just shy of 2,000 sq ft. The Elizabeth Line at nearby Forest Gate Station is a short walk away, making trips into central London quick and easy.

Setting the Scene

Forest Gate’s beginnings trace back to the early Victorian era, when it consisted of a cluster of houses surrounding a livestock barrier onto what would have previously accessed the ancient Wanstead Flats area of Epping Forest. Located in what is currently Woodford Road, the pre-industrial livestock gate was created to prevent cattle from the forest from wandering onto the old Roman Road (or Romford). As the small hamlet grew around the gate grew, the now larger neighbourhood adopted its bucolic place name. The agrarian origins of the area are still felt in nearby Wanstead Flats and Park, a sweeping open area of grassland and woodland.

The Grand Tour
The front approach to the house is paved with brick and lined with beds of herbaceous perennials on both sides. The smart façade of London stock brick laid in Flemish bond is accented with cream-painted masonry in French Gray by Farrow and Ball. A large bay window with sash windows is detailed with a dentil motif, while the porch is flanked by Doric columns with an overarching lintel following the motif from the windows. A fan light inset within the porch alcove sits atop the front door, which is flanked with original etched sidelights of frosted glass patterned with Grecian urns and floral swags. A timber half-glazed front door is painted in Studio Green by Farrow and Ball.

Entering into the wide airy hall, original floorboards, lovingly sanded and restored, stretch underfoot. The spacious front reception room painted in Serpentine by Little Greene is flooded with light from the bay window. Ornate and original plaster moulding and cornicing frame the topmost portion of the walls, with an original ceiling rose completing the intact period scheme. The expansive south-facing room is used as a roomy, bright office by the current owners.

To the rear is a cosy sitting room painted in striking blue-gray tones and with the same effusive cornicing as the front room. A modern woodburner has been installed within the chimney breast for colder months, while double doors onto the patio and garden beyond are perfect for opening up the space in warmer weather. A kitchen at the rear is complete with a dining area, downstairs loo, scullery and garden access.

On the first floor, four bedrooms are arranged around the central hall. The smallest has been conceived as a luxurious dressing room and fitted with bespoke joinery. Across the hall, the principal bedroom is of large proportions and takes in views of the garden below. A further two double bedrooms are found on this floor, as well as the elegant family bathroom. An airy guest suite has been created in a meticulous dormer extension on the topmost floor, a project undertaken by the current owners. Windows flood the space with natural light, and there is ample storage in cleverly designed eaves space. A small but beautifully formed wet room en suite makes this a self-contained idyll.

The Great Outdoors

A paved patio space hugs the rear of the house and borders a lawn edged with substantial garden beds filled with lavender, peonies, camellias, shrub and climbing roses. In the summer bulbs spring into action filling the space with spires of gladioli and irises, while clematis, jasmine and grape vines intertwine in the background. Year round interest is found in evergreen shrubs and species trees, including olive, loquat, fig, Chinese silk tree and an impressive tree fern, making the garden is a perfect retreat. Border walls are clad in verdant ivy and a pretty glass house is perfect for starting early seedlings. With doors into the back sitting room and the kitchen, the patio is perfect for outdoor entertaining in warm weather.

Out and About

Hampton Road is less than a 10-minute walk from Wanstead Flats, an expansive area of open fields that form the southernmost part of Epping Forest. Hollow Pond lies just north of the Flats. Here, the water is surrounded by woodland and paths, and there is the opportunity to hire a rowing boat and observe the various water birds that visit and the resident terrapins. Epping Forest lies just north of Hollow Pond, with its many trails perfect for walking and cycling through 8,000 acres of well-preserved ancient woodland. Designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest, there are inland water bodies, dry grassland and deciduous woodland, which feels entirely detached from the city.

The railway arches of Winchelsea Road are just over a 10-minute walk north and offer a range of thriving independent businesses, including the microbrewery Pretty Decent Beer, wine bar Burgess & Hall and craft beer and arts venue The Wanstead Tap. Also close are The Holly Tree, a lively family pub, and the Wild Goose bakery for excellent sourdough bread.

For more inspiration, why not look to The Modern House’s guide to Forest Gate?

The house is situated just over five minutes’ walk from Forest Gate Station, which lies on the newly opened Elizabeth line. High-frequency services run from here to Liverpool Street, Farringdon, Tottenham Court Road, Bond Street and Paddington before the line forks at Hayes and Harlington, one branch heading to Reading and the other to Heathrow Airport. London Overground services are also available at Wanstead Park Station, which is a 10-minute walk away.

Council Tax Band: D