Clifton Villa, Blackheath Park.
“Probably the finest Regency Georgian house in Blackheath”
Situated on Blackheath Park, one of the area`s most sought after residential roads, forming part of the leafy private Cator Estate, the property enjoys excellent access to the extensive facilities offered by Blackheath village and Greenwich Park. Built in 1826, this substantial property of 4,000 square feet and boasting an abundance of original features, includes six bedrooms, four designer bathrooms, two impressive formal reception rooms and three spacious rooms on the top floor ideal for work or play. The walled rear garden extends to 112ft. by 70ft wide, whilst the attractive frontage provides parking for several cars. The total plot amounts to around 1/3 acre in size. The current owners have happily occupied this home for 50 years, in that time restoring the property inside and out.
Historically, the house was once the family home of George Robert Stephenson, railway engineer, nephew of the famous George Stephenson and cousin to Robert Stephenson. The family were hugely influential in the building of the world`s early locomotives and railroads. This is commemorated by a plaque mounted to the front of the property.
This fine Grade 11 listed Regency Georgian house with classical motifs and columns occupies a substantial corner plot on the historic site of the great 18th Century house of Wricklemarsh. It is believed that the foundations of the great house still lie under the area occupied by Clifton Villa.
The Blackheath Cator Estate comprises 282 leafy acres just south of Blackheath Village, between Lee Road to the west, Morden Road to the east and Manor Way to the south. These private roads were laid down in the 1820s, some years after the purchase of the land by John Cator in 1783 when the Estate included a substantial mansion – Wricklemarsh House. After its owner, Sir Gregory Page, died in 1775, the house was considered a white elephant. Consequently, John Cator was able to purchase the estate at the preferential price of £22,550, but being unable to sell the house, he demolished it, selling off the component parts. Some foundations survive under the junction of Pond Road and Blackheath Park, also the vaults under the front garden of Clifton Villa. As to other significant buildings nearby, The Paragon, South Row, and Montpelier Row near the existing village were all in place by 1800.
John Cator died in 1806 when most of the land was still in farming use and the Cator family with fellow trustees continued to administer the Estate until 1965. From the 1820s, there was a gradual development of quality houses in the Greek Revival style along Blackheath Park and Pond Road. The church of St Michael and All Angels alongside, with its distinctive spire, was built in 1828. To maintain the exclusive nature of their estate, the Cators erected lodge houses which still exist. These were occupied by resident keepers, who, in the early years of the 19th century also distributed letters and parcels.
The biggest changes to the Estate came after World War II with the building of two municipal estates, enabled by compulsory purchase of the land. Then in 1956 came the first of many schemes of Span housing designed by architect Eric Lyons. These were carefully laid out to fit in with the Cator Estates environmental qualities and the whole is now one of the quietest leafy areas within 20 minutes of central London with Blackheath Park one of the finest broad avenues of lime trees.
Clifton Villa is a Grade II listed Georgian Villa within the Cator Estate with a mature walled garden and has recently been put on the market for the first time in 60 years.
The property has been modernizsed, is versatile in planning and has up to 6 bedrooms,2 large social rooms, 4 bathrooms and 3 spacious top floor rooms ideal for work or play, together with gorgeous landscaped gardens with mature specimen trees, Tudor brick walls and a vegetable garden The property has space and opportunities for value added refurbishment and to build a double garage or to create an apartment at the lower ground floor with separate entrance.
This property is for sale freehold at £3,250,000. If you are interested in any further details or to arrange a viewing, please call 01795 844939.
