A Chic London Mews Apartment With Unusually Large Rooms and High Ceilings

Listing of the Day

Location: London Price: £3.95 million (US$4.5 million)

The exclusive cobblestone courtyard known as Turnchapel Mews sits between Clapham Common and Battersea Park in south London. In the mid-19th century, the now private and gated mews served as horse stables for the main houses on the surrounding streets. 

A charming and quite large apartment there, the five-bedroom No. 8 Turnchapel Mews, occupies the top floor of four terraced mews houses and has a large outdoor terrace (most of the apartment is on one floor, but a small part is on a separate floor). In the 1980s, the acclaimed author Roald Dahl lived just downstairs, according to the listing agents.

"From the outside it’s hard to envisage the space within," said Jake Russell, a director at the London firm of Russell Simpson. "However, as soon as you step inside, it opens up into this wonderful, open environment."

"Often, mews houses have smaller proportions than a normal house, with lower ceilings and tighter rooms, but No.8  couldn’t be further from the norm," he said.

The rooms feature a prominent peaked roof with exposed beams that add character and a sense of history. They are bright with natural light, Mr. Russell said.

You enter the home via a grand entrance hall, which leads to a stairway up to the apartment. The stairs lead directly into the dining room, with the master bedroom suite, which includes a private dressing room, off to the left. Through the dining room is the expansive drawing room.

"The kitchen is the heart of the home," Mr. Russell said. Located on the second floor, the space features a loft-like peaked ceiling with wooden beams and three sash windows, "which create a wonderful sense of light and space." The kitchen also has wood cabinets, marble work surfaces, an island and rustic wooden flooring.

"I would imagine this house going to a family or to someone working in the City or West End," Mr. Russell said. "Its proximity to a number of stations means buyers can take advantage of the quick commuting time, while the private, gated nature of the mews provides a peaceful privacy."

"It is also very close to two of the finest green spaces south of the Thames, which will appeal to families," he said.

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The Stats

The 4,077-square-foot apartment has five bedrooms and three full bathrooms.

"The property also boasts a self-contained flat on the ground floor," Mr. Russell said. Entered through the main entrance or its own arched doorway, this studio apartment, which is included in the square footage, is located in a separate annex and would be perfect for older children, elderly relatives, a housekeeper or as a private rented apartment. It has a bedroom/reception room, kitchen and bathroom.

Amenities

The apartment has a 90-by-22-foot terrace and private parking for two cars. It has two working fireplaces—one in the master bedroom and the other in the drawing room.

Celebrity Cachet

Roald Dahl bought a ground-floor home in Turnchapel Mews, directly beneath No. 8, in 1982, following the publication of one of his best-known stories, "The BFG." He lived there until his death in 1990. During this period he worked on and completed "The Witches" (1983) and "Matilda" (1988).

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Neighborhood Notes

"Clapham is one of the most popular locations in London for a whole range of buyers," Mr. Russell said. "The Old Town is a great place for a weekend stroll, with a great selection of pubs, cocktail bars, delis and cafes."

The Common is a big draw year round, he said, but in the summer, especially, "it buzzes with families, fitness fanatics and festivals."

Agent: Jake Russell, a director at Russell Simpson

View the original listing.