Drake Court, Tylney Avenue, London SE19

This spacious one-bedroom ground floor apartment sits in a south-east facing corner of Drake Court, a mid-century tower on the popular Dulwich Estate. It is one of the only apartments on the estate to have direct access to a garden, awarding it a wonderfully verdant but secluded outlook that shifts through the seasons. Despite its woodland position, the building is a short walk from Crystal Palace, and is close to Gipsy Hill rail station for direct travel into central London.



The Building



An area well-known for its exceptional modernist architecture, the Dulwich Estate occupies approximately 1,500 acres and includes numerous private roads that are managed by the estate. It is noted for its concentration of outstanding 1950s and ’60s design, much of it by Austin Vernon & Partners. The mix of houses and thoughtful landscaping makes for an appealing and unique place to live. For more information, please see the History section below.



The Tour



Entrance is on the raised ground floor via stepped access leading to a private front door. A hallway, laid with original Iroko polished flooring continues into the vast living area. Original, exemplary Crittall glazing spans the length of the south-east facing wall with a new double-glazed door at one end, allowing for exceptional natural light throughout the plan and easy garden access. The Crittall frames have been carefully restored to expose the steelwork, alongside elegant original polished brassware. Secondary glazing has been fitted throughout for added insulation.



A bright kitchen, complete with underfloor heating, has an integrated oven and ample space for a full-sized fridge. Cabinets are neutral, with contrasting worktops and white metro tiling. Original pantry storage is intact, with 1950s paper lining.



The bedroom, which has been newly carpeted, sits adjacent to the living area. It has bespoke built-in overbed wardrobes, with plenty of additional storage available in the vestibule just outside it. The carpentry is embellished with original hardware, while expansive windows stretch across one wall and have a ribbon of original reeded glass at the base.



Crisp white tiling with a silver trim lines the walls in the bathroom, which has a bathtub with overhead Aqualisa shower.



Outside Space



Unusually, this apartment, along with one direct neighbour, has exclusive use of a terrace accessed directly from the living area. A short flight of steps leads down to a patio area, met with a mountain hydrangea on one side, and surrounded by a rhododendron bush, cherry blossom trees, mature oaks and lawned gardens.



The garden proposes a peaceful spot for outdoor dining during the summer months, or for green-fingered gardeners throughout the year.





The Area



Despite its leafy feel and sequestered setting, Drake Court is wonderfully connected. Local attractions include the Dulwich Picture Gallery, the Horniman Museum and the local town centres of Crystal Palace and Dulwich Village.



Crystal Palace, which was included in Lonely Planet’s 'greatest little-known neighbourhoods in the world', is a short walk away and is a vibrant area with award-winning restaurants, bars and mid-century furniture shops. Haynes Lane market offers an array of fresh produce at weekends. The Everyman cinema, which occupies a carefully restored art deco building, is also within easy reach.



The Dulwich Estate is extremely close to Dulwich and Sydenham Woods, now a wildlife nature reserve; the lake, maze, and open spaces of Crystal Palace Park are also a short walk away.



Drake Court is excellently positioned for access to the London transport network; Gipsy Hill station has direct rail links to London Bridge (26 minutes) and Clapham Junction (15 minutes). Crystal Palace station (Windrush Overground and mainline trains) is also within walking distance (approximately 20 minutes). Connecting trains (via Sydenham) arrive at Canada Water in 20 minutes and Shoreditch High Street in 30 minutes. Sydenham Hill station is also only 15 minutes on foot and runs direct services to Victoria (15 minutes). There are excellent bus links to central London.



Tenure: Leasehold / Lease Length: Approx. 141 years remaining / Service Charge: Approx. £1,600 per annum / Council Tax Band: B