A Luxury London Duplex Loft With a Very Different History

Listing of the Day

Location: London, England

Price: £10 million (US$13.98 million)

Thames River views, privacy and access to a foodie culture—not to mention a bit of English language history—are some of the highlights of this South Bank loft on Clink Street.

The area was once home to "the most medieval prison" in London, otherwise known as "the clink." The prison closed in 1780, according to a historical marker on the site, but its name lives on.

These days visitors to the neighborhood can still find bars, albeit long, wooden ones with libations on the other side. The area is bustling with nightlife, entertaining and dining options. This two-level loft is inconspicuously at the heart of it all.

The partially open-floor plan features three living spaces, with one wall lined entirely with built-in library shelving. The kitchen has a breakfast nook, wine storage and high-end appliances, according to the listing.

"It’s really a hidden gem," said agent Matthew Smith of Knight Frank. "It’s so unassuming...You can walk through the hustle and bustle of the streets and then find yourself in this massive property. It’s very private, and yet in the middle of everything."

Stats

Five bedrooms, five bathrooms and three reception rooms are spread out over two levels.

Amenities

Space is one of the apartment’s most attractive features, according to Mr. Smith. "It’s very hard to find 7,000 square feet of property in that location, especially over two floors," he said.

Thanks to its former life as warehouse space, the home has lofty ceilings that create the double-height main reception area.

The city skyline and Thames River can be seen from every room, as well as from the 850-square-foot landscaped terrace. Both the master bedroom and main reception space open out on to the terrace, and there’s a separate balcony attached to the kitchen, the listing said.

"You can see the Shard, [the European Union’s] tallest building, and the ruins of Winchester Cathedral as well," Mr. Smith said.

Each of the five bedrooms has its own bathroom, and there’s also a powder room, gym and study area.

Plus, there are two parking places in the garage, Mr. Smith said.

More:Former London Factory That Made Beethoven’s Pianos Now Luxury Lofts

Design pedigree

The loft was converted from two different warehouse buildings, and retains several of their industrial design features. That includes exposed brick, hardwood floors, cast-iron details and wooden beams throughout the space, Mr. Smith said. Custom doors and bespoke joinery were created in keeping with the history of the space.

"It has a lot of period character," Mr. Smith said. "But where you want it to be new, it’s new." That includes the kitchen and bathrooms, as well as the heating system, he added.

Neighborhood notes

Clink Street is between the Southwark and London bridges, with quick access to the London Bridge tube station.

One of the highlights of the home is its proximity to Borough Market, Mr. Smith said. Market stalls and shops offer everything from farm fresh eggs and produce to a full English breakfast or a few pints at the pub.

More:A Duplex Penthouse Loft By London’s River Thames With a History of Seafaring

The market has existed for more than 1,000 years, according to its website, so it’s possible the Bard may have broken bread there. More than possible, in fact, given that the original Globe Theatre was just minutes away. Shakespeare's Globe, a replica of the original theater that opened in 1997, is just a quick walk from the loft.

There’s also the Clink Prison Museum, where visitors can learn the history of the notorious prison before heading to one of the area’s many pubs and restaurants.

Agent: Matthew Smith, Knight Frank

View the original listing.

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