Charles Lamb and his sister, Mary, are best known for their collaborative magnum opus collection: Tales from Shakespeare. Mary was unwell with bipolar disorder, and it became Charles’ life's work to take care of his beloved sister, which, in 1825, meant moving to a quaint cottage in the London suburb of Enfield. The house they lived in, Clarendon Cottage, is now on the market for just shy of £1.6 million.
The house has seen many iterations since it was built in the 16th century: it has passed through private ownership, been a school, and is now a B&B. Originally a timber framed cottage, there are several more modern additions to the property: in the 17th century the facade of the house was updated in stucco, and in the 18th century, it was extended at the rear.
Today, despite its rather adorable (but deceptive) facade, the cottage boasts almost 3,000 square feet of space. The current owners – who clearly have a good eye – renovated the house and now it is adorned with stylish tongue and groove panelling, a calming palate of Edward Bulmer paints and natural materials throughout.
Inside, the house's original beams, limestone floor and Georgian fireplaces have been retained. The street-facing side of the house is where you’ll find the library, sitting room and a guest loo with a shower, and at the back the dining room and kitchen. The kitchen occupies a space which was once an old schoolroom, and double height ceilings flood it with light. Though there are contemporary elements here, such as in the cork flooring, the general feeling is deeply traditional. French doors open directly onto the terrace and back garden.
Like the rest of the houses on the terrace, the house has both a garden at the front (behind a story-book white picket fence and yew hedge) as well as one at the back. The back garden once upon a time housed a swimming pool, but this has since been transformed into a large pond which looks at home among the roses, lavender and climbing wisteria which populate the garden.
Upstairs houses four bedrooms over two floors, two additional bathrooms and another small room which could be a study, or a child’s bedroom.
Enfield officially became a borough of London in 1965. It’s known for its abundance of green space, the winding New River which flows through, and the relative quiet, considering it’s just 35 minutes on the train from Central London. Gentleman’s Row, on which Clarendon Cottage sits, is just half a mile away from Enfield Chase and Enfield Town stations.
Clarendon Cottage is listed with Inigo. For more information, visit inigo.com
