Gilmore Road, London SE13

Thoughtfully converted by Frame architects, this wonderful two-bedroom apartment is on the raised ground floor of a handsome, Grade II-listed, former Edwardian telephone exchange. The striking apartment has beautifully preserved original features, including glazed tiles, the entrance door, parquet flooring and original bathroom fixtures. The apartment has access to the shared communal garden and is conveniently located near the many restaurants and cafes of bustling Lewisham and the ever-popular Hither Green.

The Building

This Grade II-listed former telephone exchange was designed by Leonard Stokes and built in 1909. Stokes built 20 telephone exchanges across the country and was strongly influenced by late 19th-century Roman Catholic architecture. His work includes churches, convents and schools. He went on to become RIBA president in 1910.

The building was redeveloped by Frame into four loft apartments, each occupying a floor and imbued with its own distinctive character. The industrial quality of the interior has been painstakingly preserved with wide planes, soaring ceilings and robust structural elements defining the spaces.

The Tour

The building’s façade is characterised by stock brick with red brick dressings, seen in the window arches and panels of banding between the ground and first floor. Flat stone pilasters rise through the moulded stone cornice, which defines the break between the first and second storey.

The entrance to the building is on the raised ground floor, where a communal lobby area, painted a bold midnight blue, leads to the carefully preserved original door opening to the apartment. Entry is to the main living area, where the original parquet floors show signs of the building’s past. Box windows wrap around the room towards the kitchen, which sits around the corner.

A large central island, clad in white tiles, creates a congregating point between the dining area and the kitchen. The same tiles have been used along the back wall to create a striking splashback, the sheen casting more light back into the room. The island is finished with a wooden worktop, and the workspace along the back wall is finished with stainless steel. There are integrated appliances; a utility cupboard sits to the side. Just off the living room, partitioned by a sliding barn door, is a wonderfully bright study with plenty of built-in storage that wraps around the back walls.

The main bedroom lies at the end of the hallway, leading from the living room. Built-in wardrobes on either side of the bedroom provide plenty of storage. Crittall windows and doors open to the en suite, a contemporary contrast to the original features that lie beyond. This was the building’s original bathroom, and the terrazzo, pale yellow and terracotta glazed tiles, and cubicles all remain. The shower cubicle and WC sit slightly raised, with beautiful wooden doors; a freestanding bathtub sits to the side. Copper piping twists around the fixtures and fittings; a finish echoed throughout the apartment.

The second bedroom is positioned along the hallway and is another good-sized double overlooking the garden. There is a second bathroom next door with a shower.

Outdoor space

The communal garden can be accessed via a wrought-iron fire escape leading down from the second bedroom. This sunny walled courtyard wraps around the building and is lined with planters filled with roses, hydrangeas, and mixed grasses.

The Area

Gilmore Road is excellently located close to several green spaces, including Manor Park, Manor House Gardens, Mountsfield Park, Blackheath and Greenwich Park. There is a wonderful range of independent shops, restaurants and cafés close by, including Sapore Vero pizzeria, Fera Lebanese Grill, The Station hotel and pub, and cafes Milk and Arlo & Moe, near Hither Green Station. Artisanal grocery and deli Found Hope and Gail’s bakery in Blackheath are a short walk away. The area is popular with young families, with several outstanding primary schools nearby and a wealth of activities for young children.

The large-scale redevelopment of Lewisham town centre is well underway. The Lewisham Gateway development is introducing new shops, restaurants and cafes as well as homes and public spaces that will benefit the local area, some of which are now open for use. Sparrow, which opened to excellent reviews in 2017, is a local favourite.

Trains run from Hither Green and nearby Lewisham station directly to London Bridge (in nine minutes), Charing Cross and Cannon Street. Lewisham (Zone Two) also operates connections to Victoria and the DLR for Canary Wharf and Bank.

Tenure: Leasehold with Share of Freehold
Lease Length: Approx. 190 years remaining
Service Charge: Approx. £3600 per annum
Parking: Residents can apply for on-street parking permit
Council Tax Band: D