If you fancy getting your hands on your very own piece of London history, please allow me to point you in the rather gorgeous direction of Bowman House. Thought to be one of the oldest surviving houses in the city, this Grade II listed gaff is filled to the brim with history and character – and has just been plonked on the property market, ready to be snapped up.
The history of Bowman House
Bowman House dates all the way back to 1673, having been built by Matthew Bowman on the street that was – at the time – called Duke Street. The name of the street on which the property is perched was changed to John Adam Street in the 1760s, when a group of brothers (John, Robert, James, and William Adam) transformed the area in a scheme known as ‘Adelphi’. Before the Embankment was constructed, John Adam Street was on the banks of the River Thames, now it’s tucked behind Victoria Embankment Gardens, running parallel to the Strand.
Bowman House has had a fair few nips and tucks over the years, especially after suffering significant bomb damage during the Blitz. In 1984, the property was sold to the father of its current owner, and was used as an office for his accountancy firm. Over the past few years, the house has undergone a rather gargantuan glow-up, courtesy of its current owner.
He has carefully restored many of the property’s original features, including fireplaces, wood paneling, and an impressive staircase that stands slap-bang in the middle of the house. The walls, skirting, cornices, and doors were all redecorated in a ‘historically authentic’ style, the front of the building was repainted, and the railings outside replaced with a set that dates all the way back to the 17th century.
The picture-perfect pad has been put up for sale with the property pros over at Tavistock Bow. The 2,917 square-feet gaff boasts 4/5 bedrooms, 4 reception rooms, 3 bathrooms, a kitchen, and – quite possibly – one of the most enviable locations in London.
Having well and truly stood the test of time (353 years worth of time, to be exact), Bowman House is a twinkling gem in London’s treasure trove of properties. And now it could be yours. Well, if you happen to have a spare £4.6 million kicking about, that is.
You can peruse the full property listing here.