‘Jewel in the crown’ is a phrase saved for the crème de la crème of an estate agent’s portfolio. It is therefore extremely prudent, especially for those interested in the property market, to pay attention whenever it is applied.
Take The Chapel in the Hampstead Manor estate, for instance. Dating back to 1928, the neo-Grecian property was diligently refurbished by Bowler James Brindley (and Suna Interior Design, alongside A&Q Partnership) and is now on the market for £7.5 million through Mount Anvil and Knight Frank.
Originally a part of the Westfield Women’s College, The interestingly-named The Chapel was always a non-denominational space, originally built as a safe space to reflect and find inspiration. Regrettably, the building fell into disuse in the most romantic sense of the word, complete with ivy roots endangering the foundations and a collapsing roof.
Only a complete disassembly of the building and a diligent rebuild would do, and this is exactly what took place.
An open-plan living, dining and kitchen space with triple height ceilings seemed to do the trick. A separate mezzanine level sits above the kitchen and media room – a bespoke Patrick Schroeter 12 ft art-deco bronze chandelier hangs in the centre.
The master suite is located off the main property. As can be expected of a house at this price point, the suite comes with a large dressing room, en-suite and terrace. Three further bedrooms await up the stairs, two of which benefit from private terraces themselves.
‘Hampstead Manor is located on a leafy road in NW3, one of the most desirable postcodes in London’ say Mount Anvil. The development boasts 156 units, from studios to homes like this one, a mixture of restored, historic buildings and new builds.
The development comes with a range of amenities – a 24 concierge service, underground parking, a town car service, communal gardens and a leisure complex complete with a pool, sauna, steam room and gym.
‘Being part of an historic renovation like The Chapel is a huge honour,' says Rebecca Hunt, Director at Suna Interior Design. ‘We’ve created a sense of opulence, with several bespoke hero pieces that enhance the striking original features of the building.’
The next owner is sure to benefit from their elegant touches and enjoy living in such a vibrant part of London.
Credit: Strutt & Parker
26 magnificent homes, as seen in Country Life
We take a look at some of the most beautiful homes for sale in Britain right now, including wonderful townhouses
Credit: Strutt & Parker
A seven-bedroom mansion for the price of a south London flat
Many of us dream of swapping a city flat for a mansion in the country - and this extraordinary property,
A chance to live in the Gothic mansion just outside London where JFK and the Queen Mother once partied
This incredible apartment in a huge 19th century house within the M25 has had some astonishing visitors. If only the
Credit: Knight Frank
An eight-bedroom mansion with 28 acres plus fishing rights, at the price of a small London flat
Whether it's sold in its entirety or in four lots, the Glen Lonan estate is as stunning as the Highlands
Credit: Bell Ingram
An eight-bedroom mansion on the shores of Loch Ness for the price of a one-bedroom flat in South London
Foyer's Bay is a majestic 19th century home set in beautiful grounds beside Loch Ness at a price which might
Credit: Savills
The five most expensive homes in London, from a listed townhouse in St James's Park to a palatial mansion in Hampstead
It's mind-boggling to think of price-tags this high, but if there is any place for them, it's London.
Why those 'win a house for £10' raffles should come with a health warning
Too good to be true? Eleanor Doughty investigates the trend for sale by raffle and explains why you should always
-
Name that hat! Country Life Quiz of the DayTuesday's quiz has a wartime property for sale, plus popes, linoleum and more.
-
Everything you need to know about the stealth red carpet tease and Breitling’s new Top Time B31 watch — as seen on Austin Butler’s wristIn the space of a month, Breitling has signed Austin Butler as a brand ambassador, launched a new collection and snapped up a dormant brand.
-
A waterside cottage in Devon with a private quay, idyllic views and the prettiest summerhouse we've seen in yearsRight beside the picturesque Yealm Estuary, No 1 Noss Mayo is an idyllic home that feels like an escape from the world. Annabel Dixon takes a look.
-
This elegant Greek villa offers would-be buyers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to live in the shadow of the AcropolisAthenian Legacy consists of two houses in walking —and almost touching — distance of one of the world’s most famous and precious landmarks.
-
Six charming homes up for sale, including one dubbed 'one of the most picturesque in Dorset', as seen in Country LifeOur look at the finest houses to come up for sale through Country Life in the past week is full of delights, from a new-Georgian mansion to a perfectly-sized Hertfordshire estate.
-
A Buckinghamshire mansion built for the speech therapist who set Churchill on his path to greatnessPenny Churchill takes a look at Rignalls, a classic Arts-and-Crafts home that looks like it's stepped out of the pages of an EM Forster novel.
-
An idyllic Hampstead mansion whose price has risen nine times faster than inflation — and it's not hard to see whyCloth Hill is even more beautiful on the inside than it is on the outside.
-
Some of Scotland's most beautiful churches are being sold off for as little as £40,000 — but a word of warning before you take the plungeLucy Denton examines how best to help former church buildings thrive as times move on and property changes hands.
-
Inside the £28 million mansion designed to 'shake things up' and 're-define the English country house of the 21st century'With everything from helicopter parking and a 1000-bottle wine cellar to bespoke wallpaper designed by Christian Lacroix, Harford Manor is a country house like no other. Annabel Dixon took a closer look and spoke to the man behind its creation.
-
A blissful and beautifully named home in one of the most exclusive spots in CornwallPenny Churchill takes a look at Boswodegh, a wonderful home that makes the most of its superb location in Helford Passage.
