Globe Road

An exceptional Georgian end-of-terrace house, thoroughly (and vibrantly) reimagined under its current ownership

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Colour, pattern and texture have breathed new life into this two-bedroom Georgian house in Stepney Green, east London. Its current owners have extensively and lovingly renovated its interiors, adding bespoke storage and a series of joyful details that cleverly respond to the house’s 19th-century origins. Neat gardens sit in the front and the rear and provide plenty of scope for seating areas and creative planting. Close to Bethnal Green, Whitechapel and Victoria Park, Globe Road is a brilliant foothold to explore some of east London’s best-loved neighbourhoods.

We’ve written about this house in greater depth here.

Setting the Scene

Globe Road takes its name from Globe Town, the easterly part of Bethnal Green that had itself been named after a historic local pub, The Globe Tavern. Globe Town had been developed to accommodate the growing number of silk weavers in the area from the early 19th century.

Built in the 1830s, this house stands as a reminder of the local architectural development that happened during the late Georgian era. Its stock-brick profile is indicative of its period and is punctuated by two wide sash windows on each storey. During the renovation, its current owners were keen to preserve the original features that remained in situ, including a particularly impressive panelled wall that runs alongside the central stairwell. Modern interventions, including adding double glazing to the house’s now restored timber windows, have been sensitive yet transformative.

The Grand Tour

At the end of a short terrace of Georgian house, the house sits behind a neat front garden with a Ginkgo tree. A flight of chequerboard-tiled steps lead to the house’s front door, which has been painted in a pea-green shade from Little Greene.

Entry is to the elegant living room, where its walls – painted in soothing ‘James White’ by Farrow and Ball – act as a minimal yet refined canvas. Herringbone-laid oak parquet extends underfoot, travelling into the adjoining reception space, presently used as a study. Windows at either end allow light to fill every corner, reaching right up to the carefully reinstated cornicing that traces round the living room’s ceiling. A bespoke trio of shelving lends plenty of storage space in the rear, and the garden-facing outlook provides a year-round verdant backdrop.

Sky-washed stairs (‘Cook’s Blue’ by Farrow and Ball) descend to the kitchen and dining room, which has been laid with beautiful and hard-wearing hexagonal terracotta tiles. The room is cleverly divided into a kitchen and an adjoining open scullery-style space – a nod to the house’s origins. In the former, the cabinetry is from DeVol and is topped with patinated copper worktops. A Smeg range sits centrally, opposite where the dining area is presently configured.

The scullery has sage-green units from Plain English and striking marble countertops, reclaimed from a manor house in Shropshire. A deep sink is positioned beneath a window to the garden; its wide ledge has proven useful for the current owners, who have used it to place drinks and snacks during summertime garden soirées. There is handy additional storage tucked underneath the stairs.

Both bedrooms lie on the first floor, reached via the same blue stairs. The walls on the ascent are also James White, a restorative green shade that complements a tall wall of original Georgian panelling.

The primary bedroom is at the front, its walls papered in a stripy design from Galerie Wallcoverings. A cleverly curved wardrobe provides generous storage space and is painted in ‘French Blue’ by Edward Bulmer, with gold hardware fittings from Matilda Goad. The room’s wide sash window provides a peaceful view over the surrounding streets.

Playfully finished, the second bedroom currently serves as a delightful nursery. Its walls are ‘Dimity’ and ‘Red Earth’ (both Farrow and Ball), the latter also used to pick out its garden-facing window.

An immaculate bathroom lies between the two bedrooms, with attractive Porcelain Superstore tiles. A walk-in shower lies behind a curved archway – a brilliantly indulgent yet deft use of space.

The Great Outdoors

Enclosed by original stock-brick walls, the garden extends at the rear of the house and is exceedingly tranquil despite its proximity to central London. A vast array of evergreen plants line a stone pathway, including a mature wisteria, leading towards a dedicated patio that basks in the morning sun.

Out and About

The house lies on Globe Road, a peaceful residential road close to the buzz of Stepney Green, Whitechapel and Bethnal Green. There are some brilliant green spaces within easy reach, including Mile End Park, Meath Gardens, Victoria Park and Bethnal Green Gardens. Stepney Green City Farm is also close by and popular with families.

A thriving range of traditional pubs, cafés and restaurants can be found in Whitechapel and Stepney Green. Neighbourhood favourites include Tayyabs, east London institution Rinkoff’s bakery and Townsend at The Whitechapel Gallery.

Bethnal Green is also within easy walking distance and is home to institutions like E Pellicci and The Approach Tavern, joined by a new wave of bars and restaurants, including Bistrotheque, Ombra and Cave Cuvée.

Some of London’s most exciting contemporary gallery spaces are close, including Chisenhale Gallery, Maureen Paley, Emalin, Herald Street and Carlos/Ishikawa. The Young V&A Museum is a short walk way, as is York Hall Leisure Centre and the independent Genesis Cinema. Regents’ Canal, Columbia Road Flower Market, Brick Lane and Shoreditch are all also within easy reach.

Stepney Green Underground station (District and Hammersmith and City lines) is minutes away from the house. Whitechapel station is also nearby and runs the Elizabeth line towards central London and Heathrow Airport. There is also an Overground line running between Clapham Junction and Highbury and Islington. Shadwell DLR station is also a short walk away for easy access to Canary Wharf.

Council Tax Band: E

Please note that all areas, measurements and distances given in these particulars are approximate and rounded. The text, photographs and floor plans are for general guidance only. Inigo has not tested any services, appliances or specific fittings — prospective purchasers are advised to inspect the property themselves. All fixtures, fittings and furniture not specifically itemised within these particulars are deemed removable by the vendor.

History

Stepney Green is the oldest area of East London and was largely rural until the 1820s. It is the only district to be recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, when the principal landowner was the Bishop of London and the original Saxon church of St Dunstan’s stood where its successor remains today. This particular corner was known as Rogues Well in Rocque’s definitive map of 1746, suggesting it was the location of one of the many springs and small streams soon to disappear under the dense streets when London was developed in the late 18th century.

The urbanisation of the area was driven by maritime trade along the River Thames and the development of the London docks. In fact, the parish of Stepney was responsible for the registration of all maritime births, deaths and marriages until the 19th century. This maritime association is remembered in the old rhyme: “He who sails on the wide sea, is a parishioner of Stepney”.

Globe Road — London E1
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