The leaning tower of Rotherhithe! Solitary London four-storey, 3.5-metre wide home on the Thames riverbank sells for £1.5million
A tall white house known locally as the ‘leaning tower of Rotherhithe’ has sold for £1.5million.
The property stands alone on a section of riverbank on the Thames, in south east London‘s Rotherhithe.
It was once surrounded by other properties, some of which were destroyed during the Blitz.
It now stands as a solitary house with public space around it and unobstructed views of the River Thames and parts of the capital.
Former owners of the property are said to have once included the nephew of Sir Winston Churchill.
The house in South East London is known locally as the ‘leaning tower of Rotherhithe’
The unusual London property expands across four levels and a total of 2,131 square feet
The solitary house has unobstructed views of the River Thames and of part of the capital
It was originally part of a row of buildings and known as 41 Rotherhithe Street, the property was once owned by Victorian barge company Braithwaite and Dean, and used as the office where workers would pull up to collect their wages.
These workers were called lightermen and spent their days on lighter, flat-bottomed barges who carried cargoes from larger ships.
The building was believed by some to be formerly 41 Rotherhithe Street, now 1 Fulford Street.
Winston Churchill’s nephew Esmond Romilly is said to have lived there with between 1937 and 1939 with his wife, author and socialite Jessica Mitford.
And Lord Snowdon, the former husband of Princess Margaret, lived further along the row in a former coal store before he married the Queen’s sister and was a photographer.
The property was put on the market with a guide price of £1.5million and was sold on March 1 by Savills estate agents
The property was sold by Savills at auction where houses can often end up going for a higher amount of money than the initial guide price
The four-storey property has been split into a home on the ground and first floor – while the top two levels have been rented out
The previous owners lived at the property for almost three decades, and originally occupied the whole building before renting out the top two floors.
The property was sold at auction on March 1 with a guide price of £1.5million via Savills estate agents.
Before the sale Steven Morish, of Savills Auctions, said: ‘Fulford Street presents a rare opportunity to acquire a one-of-a-kind riverside property which is a well-known landmark in the local area.
‘Offering 180 degree uninterrupted views of many of the city’s most iconic landmarks, including Tower Bridge, and with approximately 2,131 sq ft of accommodation over four floors, this is without doubt one of the most unique properties to come to auction in recent years.’
Unique opportunity: This was the first time in 28 years the property was for sale
The previous owners originally used the entire building for themselves but then rented out parts of it
There is plenty of storage on the ground level of the property, with space for several sets of drawers
Part of the house has been dedicated to a well-equipped music room with keyboards and sound systems
Part of the house has been rented out, providing an income to the owners of the property
There are wooden beams and flooring on the top level of the house known as the leaning tower of Rotherhithe
