Grenville Court II
Lymer Avenue, London SE19
Architect: Austin Vernon & Partners
Register for similar homes"The original Dulwich Estate sales brochure noted 'the spacious living room is magnificent. Nearly the whole of one wall is taken up by deep continuous windows'."
Grenville Court forms part of the renowned Dulwich Estate, and was built between 1957 and 1963 to a design by Austin Vernon and Partners. This two-bedroom apartment sits on the ground floor at the quiet rear of the block, surrounded by the mature trees and landscaped gardens that the estate is known for.
These apartments were intended to provide high-quality housing for working professionals, and as such were finished with lovely hardwood floors and Crittal windows that span almost the length of the living space and rotate on a central axis to create a prevailing sense of space and light. This flat was lovingly restored by its current owner, returning its mid-century charm with sensitive modern additions in the kitchen and bathroom.
The communal areas in these blocks are extremely well-considered, and a set of steps leads to the raised ground floor. Inside the apartment, a small lobby leads to the large living space. The current owner has reinstated the sliding doors that separate the kitchen, which is smartly fitted in white.
There are two equal-sized bedrooms with in-built cabinetry at the far end of the apartment. Each are large and bright with original floorboards and views over the gardens. This apartment also has the lease of a garage on the estate.
An area well-known for its exceptional Modern architecture, the Dulwich Estate occupies approximately 1,500 acres, with numerous private roads that are managed by the Estate. The mix of houses and exceptional landscaping make for an appealing and unique place to live.
Grenville Court sits near Dulwich and Sydenham Woods, which are wildlife nature reserves, and next to Crystal Palace Park. Other local attractions include the Dulwich Picture Gallery, the Horniman Museum and the local town centres of Crystal Palace and Dulwich Village. Crystal Palace, which was included in Lonely Planet’s ‘Greatest little-known neighbourhoods in the world’, is a short walk away, and is a vibrant area with award-winning restaurants and bars as well as having a thriving arts and music scene.
Gipsy Hill and Sydenham Hill stations are less than one mile away, with frequent links to London Victoria and London Bridge. There are also excellent bus connections towards Herne Hill, Brixton and into the centre of London.
Tenure: Leasehold
Lease Length: 129 years remaining
Parking: private garage and off-street
Council Tax Band: C (approx. £1,232.70 per annum)
Service Charge: approx. £2,000 per annum. The charge covers buildings insurance, freeholders’ administration or management charges, cleaning services, communal garden maintenance and repairs to shared areas and the outside of the building
Please note that all areas, measurements and distances given in these particulars are approximate and rounded. The text, photographs and floor plans are for general guidance only. The Modern House has not tested any services, appliances or specific fittings — prospective purchasers are advised to inspect the property themselves. All fixtures, fittings and furniture not specifically itemised within these particulars are deemed removable by the vendor.
History
Grenville Court is situated in part of a large area of land in South East London that has been maintained for over 400 years by the Dulwich Estate. In the 1950s the estate ran into difficulty. The area had been badly damaged during the Second World War, and lease lengths were running so short that banks were no longer happy to lend on the houses and selling was becoming more and more difficult. People were leaving the area and renting their houses out.
In 1954, Austin Vernon & Partners were called on to design a scheme that would rejuvenate the Dulwich Estate. Vernon himself had formerly been a pupil at Dulwich College from 1898 -1901 and so knew this area well, whilst his uncle Frederick Austin Vernon (1882-1972) had already been the surveyor and architect to the Dulwich Estate.
By 1957 Vernon’s first scheme of building was completed. The blocks on Farquhar Road were the first to be built and they proved to be such a success that a second scheme began, encompassing the nearby Lymer Road (including Grenville Court) and beyond. Over the next 20 years more than 2,000 new homes were designed by Austin Vernon & Partners, resulting in a remarkable area of 1950s and 60s-era architecture.
The houses and flats were designed to a high standard, with use of large expanses of glass, open rooms and central heating. Also quite remarkable was the landscaping that was planned for the estate. The roads were separated from pedestrian areas and large areas were given over to communal gardens and spinneys. The result was an estate which was and remains beautifully designed, verdant and peaceful.
