Its Neighbours Bombed or Razed—the Last in a Row of Thames-Front Townhouses Heads to Auction

A unique riverside home in London with panoramic views of some of the city’s most famous landmarks is headed to auction on March 1.

The property, directly on the River Thames in Rotherhithe and overlooking Tower Bridge, The Shard and Canary Wharf, will go under the hammer with a guide price of £1.5 million (US$1.8 million) with estate agency Savills.

Today, the detached home, known locally as The Leaning Tower of Rotherhithe stands unusually isolated in jam-packed London, but that wasn’t always the case.

The industrial-style, waterfront residence was once part of a row of buildings, and is the last remaining after its neighbours were destroyed by bombs in World War II or sold off and demolished over the years, according to Savills.

As well as its streak of luck, its history also includes a stint as the office of Braithwaite & Dean, a barge company, and as the home of one of the infamous Mitford sisters. The sibling aristocrats became well-known for their contrary political views. The Times newspaper once described them as “Diana the Fascist; Jessica the Communist; Unity the Hitler-lover; Nancy the Novelist; Deborah the Duchess and Pamela the unobtrusive poultry connoisseur.”

It was Jessica, the Communist, who called this place home from 1937 to 1939, along with her husband, Esmond Romilly, Winston Churchill’s nephew.

The house “presents a rare opportunity to acquire a one-of-a-kind riverside property which is a well-known landmark in the local area,” Steven Morish of Savills Auctions said in a statement.

“Offering 180-degree uninterrupted views of many of the city’s most iconic landmarks, including Tower Bridge, and with approximately 2,131 square feet of accommodation over four floors, this is without doubt one of the most unique properties to come to auction in recent years,” he added.

The property, according to the listing, is a “complete blank canvas spread.”

The sellers have called the building home for 28 years, according to Savills. They reportedly first occupied the whole building, but now rent the top two floors and use the bottom two as a live/work space.

Long-term Sydney residents always had handful of not-so-glamourous nicknames for the building on the corner of Cleveland and Baptist Streets straddling Redfern and Surry Hills, but after a modern rebirth that’s all changed.

Once known as “Murder Mall” or “Methadone Mall”, the 1960s-built Surry Hills Shopping Centre was a magnet for colourful characters and questionable behaviour. Today, however, a $500 million facelift of the site — alongside a slow and steady gentrification of the two neighbouring suburbs — the prime corner property has been transformed into a luxury apartment complex Surry Hills Village by developer Toga Group.

The crowning feature of the 122-apartment project is the three-bedroom penthouse, fully completed and just released to market with a $7.5 million price guide.

Measuring 211sqm of internal space, with a 136sqm terrace complete with landscaping, the penthouse is the brand new brainchild of Surry Hills local Adam Haddow, director of architecture at award-winning firm SJB.

Victoria Judge, senior associate and co-interior design lead at SJB says Surry Hills Village sets a new residential benchmark for the southern end of Surry Hills.

“The residential offering is well-appointed, confident, luxe and bohemian. Smart enough to know what makes good living, and cool enough to hold its own amongst design-centric Surry Hills.”

Allan Vidor, managing director of Toga Group, adds that the penthouse is the quintessential jewel in the crown of Surry Hills Village.

“Bringing together a distinct design that draws on the beauty and vibrancy of Sydney; grand spaces and the finest finishes across a significant footprint, located only a stone’s throw away from the exciting cultural hub of Crown St and Surry Hills.”

Created to maximise views of the city skyline and parkland, the top floor apartment has a practical layout including a wide private lobby leading to the main living room, a sleek kitchen featuring Pietra Verde marble and a concealed butler’s pantry Sub-Zero Wolf appliances, full-height Aspen elm joinery panels hiding storage throughout, flamed Saville stone flooring, a powder room, and two car spaces with a personal EV.

All three bedrooms have large wardrobes and ensuites with bathrooms fittings such as freestanding baths, artisan penny tiles, emerald marble surfaces and brushed-nickel accents.

Additional features of the entertainer’s home include leather-bound joinery doors opening to a full wet bar with Sub-Zero wine fridge and Sub-Zero Wolf barbecue.

The Surry Hills Village precinct will open in stages until autumn next year and once complete, Wunderlich Lane will be home to a collection of 25 restaurants and bars plus wellness and boutique retail. The EVE Hotel Sydney will open later in 2024, offering guests an immersive experience in the precinct’s art, culture, and culinary offerings.

The Surry Hills Village penthouse on Baptist is now finished and ready to move into with marketing through Toga Group and inquiries to 1800 554 556.

Its Neighbours Bombed or Razed—the Last in a Row of Thames-Front Townhouses Heads to Auction

A Sydney site with a questionable past is reborn as a luxe residential environment ideal for indulging in dining out