Lonsdale Road, Barnes, London, SW13

Winkworth since 1835 are delighted to offer one of the popular stucco fronted Victorian Villas on the prestigious Lonsdale Road. Lonsdale Road is named after William Lowther, the 2nd Earl of Lonsdale, who in 1846 acquired the site of 70 Lonsdale Road and constructed all the Stucco Villas in this road. He changed the road name from Lower Bridge Road to Lonsdale Road. William Lowther's head builder, who designed 70 Lonsdale Road was William Laxton who lived between 1802 to 1854, was the author of the Builder's Price Book, a standard reference work in the building profession, which he edited for thirty years. He also designed the Tower House on Richmond Bridge circa 1850 and was the architect of the Castelau Estate, constructed from 1842 for the Boileau family of Castelnau House. Laxton's vast expertise and experience would suggest that 70 Lonsdale Road was solidly built. We know it to have been completed late in 1851 because in the autumn of that year, when the census enumerator dropped by, he found it in the possession of Hannah Coles aged 56 years old at the time, who shared the property with her 8-year-old grandson, Thomas Berens, whose parents were then in India where young Thomas's father, James Berens, was an officer in Her Majesty’s Indian Army. Thomas, one assumes, had been left behind with his grandmother in order that he might acquire an English education. Records for 1871 show No. 70 Lonsdale Road sheltering John Greville Fennell [1807- 1885] the artist, naturalist and angler who drew pictures of the tournament at Eglinton Castle for the Illustrated London News. From 1853 Fennell was a member of the staff of the Field. He was the intimate friend of Phil Browne, Charles Dickens and Thackeray, as well as of other literary men of the day, some ofwhom would certainly have visited this house. While living at No. 70, Fennell published The Rail and the Rod and The Book of the Roach [1870]. He painted the Thames at Barnes, and executed some interesting Scottish landscapes, as well as one in California. A keen fisherman, he often painted fishing subjects. A full historical account of all the owners of 70 Lonsdale from 1851 to 2023 can be requested, to add colour and historical fact to this wonderful property. One approaches this creatively designed property along a paved pathway through the front garden, then up steps that lead to the front door and entrance hall. There you will find two large reception rooms with high ceilings, magnificent French windows, wooden floors and an ornate fireplace in the front reception room. There is access to the wooden terrace with steps leading down into the lawned garden. On the lower ground floor you find the spacious bespoke designer kitchen made by Bulthaup, leading into the dining room and then the family room, utility room and guest cloakroom. The floorboards from Danish maker Dinesen have been laid throughout the kitchen, dining area, living room and extend out into the patio. There you will find the added benefit of outside storage. The principal bedroom can be found on the first floor with extensive built-in cupboards. The spacious family bathroom has a bath, a generous shower, double hand basin and water closet. There is a further bedroom and bathroom on this floor. The top floor comprises four further bedrooms and a bathroom. On the landing is a handmade wooden staircase leading to a loft room. To the rear of the house is a wooden decked patio leading to tiered landscaped flower beds with steps to the side leading to a lawned garden