In 1540, when the dissolution of the monasteries took place, the manor reverted to crown ownership and was eventually purchased by the St John family. Towards the end of the eighteenth century it became property of the Spencer family, and remains their property to this day.

Battersea was well known for the supply of vegetables, fruit and flowers to the London markets from the early seventeenth to the early nineteenth century, in addition to supplying plants to the colonies in America. The village nucleus itself was by the river, near the parish church, with various industries along the riverside.

Battersea’s population increased hugely from 6,617 in 1841 to 168,907 in 1901 due to the construction of railways and the resulting suburbanisation of London. By this time it was a Metropolitan Borough. Four railway companies occupied a large amount of the open land, and various new industries replaced the wharves and riverside windmills. These included Prices Candles, Morgan’s Crucible works, Garton’s Glucose factory, flour mills, breweries and the Nine Elms Gas Works. Battersea Park was built in time to rescue Thames-side Battersea from being overwhelmed by industry.

Higher quality suburban housing was built along Battersea Rise and beyond after 1870. Despite this development, the conditions in the north of the parish remained extremely impoverished indeed. Battersea remained largely the same for the next half a century, until the World War Two bombing destroyed or damaged a great deal of the riverside property there and in the surrounding areas.

After the Second World War, much of the area was re-developed in a very large scale municipal rebuilding plan. Simultaneously, industries on the riverside, west of Albert Bridge began to relocate or close down, with housing taking its place, including high rise apartment blocks, such as the Trade Tower on Plantation Wharf, with the intention of appealing to young professionals.

The Royal College of Arts continued expansion in Battersea has encouraged newer industries to move into the area, with the redevelopment of Battersea Power Station and the reinvention of Nine Elms, which the new US embassy will call home. As a result, property prices in the area are beginning to compete with those in nearby Kensington and Chelsea.

Estates such as Winstanley, Doddington and Patmore are still deprived areas, and despite the insatiable demand for cheaper social housing, this shows no indication of being met in the near future. The opening of an over ground line has improved transport links from Clapham Junction to Surrey Quays and beyond. Much remains to be done, but there are many signs that positive change is around the corner for Battersea and the surrounding area.

If you would like to know more about flats for sale in Battersea, check out our site|website|blog}. House Market Watcher has all the latest London property news and updates.

Development In Battersea – A History is a post from: WiredWriter

Belgravia is a clearly-defined area of Central London. Unlike many London districts which have rather vague borders – such as Hampstead Village – Belgravia has established borders on four sides. They are Sloane Street and Buckingham Palace Road to the west and east, and Knightsbridge and Pimlico Road to the north and south. It is thus a regular shape, with Hyde Park Corner at the north east, and Sloane Square to the south west. It is obvious from these landmarks that this is a desirably central location.

Belgravia’s history

Belgravia was developed in the early part of the nineteenth century on land belonging to the Grosvenor family, which still owns much of the area’s property. The head of the Grosvenor family is the Duke of Westminster, whose titles include Viscount Belgrave. It was an earlier Viscount Belgrave who gave his name to Belgrave Square, which is a fine residential square to the north of the district.

Getting there and getting about

Travel links could scarcely be better than those in this part of London. Victoria Station lies at its corner, with trains to Southern England and an express service to Gatwick Airport. There are underground stations at Knightsbridge, Hyde Park Corner, and Sloane Square, as well as Victoria. Victoria Coach Station is London’s principal terminus for long-distance bus services, and there are also numerous local bus routes. Road access to the west and north of London is simple, with the M4 and M40 motorways within reach.

Who lives or has lived here?

It is virtually impossible to list all the well-known people who have made their home in Belgravia. Musicians Chopin and Mozart are both known to have stayed here, and a more recent composer in residence is Andrew Lloyd Webber. Poets and authors have included Mary Shelley (the writer of Frankenstein) and Poet Laureate Alfred Lord Tennyson. James Bond creator Ian Fleming lived here, and so did two of the actors who portrayed 007 on film, Sir Sean Connery and Sir Roger Moore. With the Houses of Parliament lying close by, it’s not surprising that famous politicians such as Margaret Thatcher, Stanley Baldwin, and Neville Chamberlain all chose to live in Belgravia.

Belgravia life

Because much of Belgravia is still owned by the Grosvenor Estate, piecemeal redevelopment has not been allowed to occur. With the exception of Elizabeth Street and Motcomb Street, which have small high-class shops and restaurants, there are few commercial or retail premises (although there are excellent shopping areas, such as Sloane Street and Knightsbridge, adjoining). Most properties are occupied either as private homes, or for diplomatic or professional purposes. The streets are quiet and discreet.

Belgravia greenery

Most of the green spaces in Belgravia are private garden squares, accessible to, and shared by, the resident of neighbouring houses. Nearby, however, are Green and Hyde Parks, and Ranelagh Gardens to the south west.

A special place

Belgravia has been at the centre of London life for centuries, and it remains a special and appealing place to live.

If you want to find out more about property management, visit the website. www.ukpropertyheadlines.co.uk is the place for all the latest scoops on the property market.

Belgravia, A London Village is a post from: WiredWriter

The streets of Little Venice are lined with trees and have small, secret gardens. The buildings are a mixture of Victorian and Edwardian period structures and some imposing stuccoed mansions. Along the river there are colourful house boats adorned with potted plants. The area is like an oasis in London and it attracts a diverse population of residents.

In the past, this area didn’t look so appealing. Paddington was once a village on the outskirts of London and the area now known as Little Venice was undeveloped. With the construction of the canals in 1801 came a few houses along the waterways. As the canals became more important, roads were added and the Church Commissioners built more homes. It was dirty and a bit rough around the edges in those days.

The area really came into its own after the Second World War because this part of London was mostly undamaged by the bombs. The potential of it didn’t go unnoticed and some updating and improvements were made. The area around Brownings’ Pond was changed at this time. Some impressive Italianate buildings and some of the water was lost, but there is still a huge area there today which looks an oasis in a crowded city.

Today Little Venice has many great features which attract visitors. The canals have good walkways that go up to London Zoo and through to Camden. Along the tow paths are nice spots to sit a while and people watch or feed the swans, ducks and geese. There is also a boat service which runs regularly from here.

Along the water are some small caf’es and bars which are lovely places to spend an evening. The Waterside Caf’e and the Warwick Castle Pub are two of the best-known spots to go to. There is also the Canal Caf’e Theatre which is a small venue specialising in comedy. The children also have a Puppet Theatre barge.

Little Venice is dotted with individual shops with a local feel. Not too far away Paddington and the Edgware Road offer a larger selection of the high-street favourites. Church Street Market is not too far away either.

The area known as Little Venice is very pretty and close to all the city of London has to offer. Tourism hasn’t reached here in big way so it remains a secret for the locals to keep. As it is a very desirable place to live for families, individuals and couples, the price of property has gone up considerably.

For properties to buy in Little Venice to browse, visit the website. The Paramount office are a friendly expert team.

Little Venice is a post from: WiredWriter

Short term let

Short term lets in London are primarily used by large businesses as a substitute to hotels as they provide homely touches that can be lost in large chains, in matter how plush. The apartments are kept in great condition, just as a hotel, but also give visitors to the capital their own front door and a place where they can feel more at ease. You can find properties in Belgravia, Pimlico and Victoria for short term let.

Holiday home

For a holiday many people decide upon short term accommodation for the same reasons as a large company would. Their home-from-home qualities give tenants access to amenities like a kitchen complete with crockery and a preparation area meaning all the renter needs do is buy the food. It is also not rare for a short term letting apartment to cost up to 30% less than a hotel room of similar criteria, so it can be a better budget substitute. The vast flexibility is also great as the tenant frequently has the option to lengthen their tenancy at the landlord’s discretion.

What you need

Before deciding upon rental accommodation it is necessary to work out exactly what you need from the property. Will you be mostly out at work or home during the day? If you are staying there for a longer amount of time you will want there to be space to unwind, eat, cook and possibly even work on a project. Think about how many rooms you need – are you there to chill out, work or do you simply need somewhere to crash?

Financial limit

Prices for rental accommodation, especially in the centre of London, can fluctuate massively. Before even looking for a property it is advisable to work out how much you have to spend, and stick to it. It is easy to get swayed into spending more when you see attractive accommodation or perks to living in certain areas but ensure you have worked out a maximum you can afford.

Location

The capital is a big place with many different districts presenting diverse cultures and opportunities. If you’re not familiar with the capital spend some time reading online articles and blogs to find out what community perception is of each area.

Leisure or work

Business trips tend to focus around the EC postcode where as holiday makers may wish to reside in a more W1 or SW area. Take a look around and get your bearings before settling on a location.

Amenities

Each short term let will vary, however, it is not unreasonable to expect all white goods and wi-fi, but you may also find unfurnished properties. It is very usual to have to pay for building maintenance costs too.

If you are looking for state agents visit the website. At Best Gapp estate agents in Belgravia we have a range of high-end houses and flats to buy or let.

Lettings In Central London is a post from: WiredWriter

Notting Hill and Primrose Hill are perhaps the best known and desirable villages in London. A combination of wide pavements, green spaces and stylish bars and clubs attract millionaires and media personalities including some big name celebrities. Who wouldn’t want to live in a village where you could bump into Kate Moss or Jude Law in the local coffee shop? These areas resemble villages in terms of their appearance at the same time as being part of central London – this is part of the appeal. A person can have a relaxing coffee looking out at a park but still be close enough to central London for an impromptu shopping spree.

Other long-established villages include Hampstead and Marylebone. Hampstead is known for its wide pavements and green spaces and attracts those who want to escape the smog of central London and breathe in clear, clean air. Marylebone goes even further and actually looks like a village, albeit a village with its own branch of Diptyque. Its quaint high street and weekly market adds to the vibrant village atmosphere.

Further away from central London, Wimbledon retains its village-like status by being the spiritual home of tennis, tennis being a quintessentially village sport. Full of green spaces and unique boutiques, it clearly seeks to maintain its village atmosphere by cultivating the motto ‘Where town meets country.’

Of course, not all villages are populated by well-heeled celebrities, and so not all parts of London are as desirable as Notting Hill, Marylebone and the like. Estate agents have tried to cash in on the popularity for village life in the city by renaming areas to make them sound more desirable. Do you know where Midtown is? The residents of Bloomsbury, St. Giles and Holborn probably haven’t heard of the place either and they are living there.

Another unlikely village, but one that deserves the title, is Blackheath. Little-known even inside London – Londoners living north of the Thames won’t even know of its existence – it is still impressively village-like. Popular with families, each year it hosts a circus and the open green spaces are perfect for kite-flying on the weekend.

Walthamstow is another of the more unlikely villages but it is perfect for those who dream of living in Highgate but find the multi-million GB pound prices out of reach. It’s suburban and tranquil and has its own conservation area with Victorian terraces. Complete with obligatory tapas restaurants and some upmarket bars, it’s the perfect combination of town and country.

There is a village for everybody in London, regardless of your income and lifestyle. They offer a compromise between the highly urbanised lifestyle offered by big cities and the feeling of belonging and community offered by village life. What’s not to like?

As a local estate agent we have an outstanding local insight and an excellent selection of 5 bed houses for rent in Wimbledon Village. If you’re going to be relocating and would like some information about property for rent in Wimbledon Village please visit our website.

Village Life For The City Dweller is a post from: WiredWriter

The ‘Artisans and Labourers’ General Dwelling Company built Queens Park Estate between 1850 and 1900, building 2000 homes in the Gothic style. These dwellings feature distinctive brickwork, turrets and pinnacles being a major feature. The estate was originally based around six avenues, which survive to the present day. Originally, the streets were named A through to P, but these have now been given full names beginning with each letter, such as Alperton, Bartlett and Caird street. This particular area stretches from Harrow Road to Kilburn Lane.

The modern day Queen’s Park Rangers had its first players domiciled in this estate, and owes its existence to Queen’s Park Gardens, where the first matches took place. The Gardens were named in honour of Queen Victoria who was the monarch at the time, and were opened in 1888, one year before the Golden Jubilee.

Local schools such as Salusbury Primary School and Queen’s Park Community School rank highly in national league tables. Some parents still choose to send their children to private schools further afield, however, in areas such as Highgate, Notting Hill and Hampstead. However, the local schools are mainly thought of as satisfactory by local residents.

Queen’s Park area has two major shopping thoroughfares, Salisbury Road, and Kilburn High Road. The former has more independent stores, as well as having the most restaurants, deli’s and caf’es. Fresh produce can be also be bought here at the Sunday farmers’ market at the local primary school. The cheaper and busier latter street is predominantly filled with chain stores.

The City of London Corporation own and run Queen’s Park, which is an important community hub. It has been awarded a Green Flag award due to the quality of the facilities, which boast a children’s playground and paddling pool, an animal farm, caf’e, and even a petanque pitch.

Kensal Green Cemetery has 72 acres and two conservation areas, partly adjoining the Grand Union Canal. It is one of the oldest burial places in London, as well as a beautiful haven for wildlife. Tours of its catacombs and historical memorials are available.

The trendy venue of Kilburn Tricycle Theatre and Cinema has tackled issues such as the murder of Steven Lawrence and the suicides at Deepcut Barracks in its productions. It is located just off Kilburn High Road.

We are a renowned letting agent with unmatched local awareness and a large choice of 2 bedroom houses for rent in Queens Park. If you are thinking about moving into a new flat or would like to learn more about renting properties in Queens Park we can help. Our contact details are on our website.

Origins Of London’s Queens Park is a post from: WiredWriter

Part of an ancient Roman highway linking Hampshire with Colchester, and London with Oxford to the west, Oxford Street was created in a land surrounded by fields, where the River Tyburn flowed to the south. This new street would go on to serve as the border between Westminster and the Parish of Marylebone.

The Earl of Oxford decided that this land could best be developed as a retail and entertainment region, so he began transforming it in the late 1700s. Local landowners also participated in improving the region by constructing residential communities on the land adjacent to the street.

Regent Street has a distinctive architectural style, which made it renowned throughout Europe soon after its construction. The Prince Regent wanted a route between the recently-built Regent Park and his residence in St. James, London, so he had John Nash design and build the road, which was completed in 1825. Roughly a century later, its architecture underwent a major renovation, being upgraded to Beaux-Arts styling.

Oxford Circus is a cherished historical landmark, because it reflects the earliest urban enhancements of London, although its earliest history includes multiple public hangings which occurred on the Tyburn Gallows until the mid-1750s. It is a road junction which encircles the Portland, Mayfair and Soho estates.

It became a part of the Nash urban development scheme of 1813-20 and was developed according to the Nash design. Although this design is no longer featured in the area because it was changed to the Tanner design from 1911, you can still see a piece of the region’s Nash design history, the Marble Arch. This arch was initially built as the western entrance for the Buckingham Palace estate, but it was moved to its new home to be the gateway to Oxford Circus from the west.

Old Bond Street is one of the earlier developments, originally built in 1686, but which is no longer on the surface map. It is named after Sir Thomas Bond, who purchased the region from the Duke of Albemarle by pooling funds with various other wealthy entrepreneurs.

New Bond Street was built in 1721, to link Old Bond Street with Oxford Street. Both Old Bond Street and New Bond Street were lined with small shops to support the nearby residential communities, but by the early 18th century they were attracting so many fashion tourists from around London that many luxurious retail shops appeared on them. Even today, New Bond Street still hosts the original auction house for the famous auction company, Sotheby’s.

Today, you won’t find many of the quaint, domestically-scaled shops that were so common during the Georgian period. The West End was almost exclusively comprised of ground-level, single-width shopfronts during this era. Retailers like Asprey, on New Bond Street, have combined several smaller shops into larger shops, which has helped preserve a bit of London’s West End architectural heritage.

We are prominent commercial estate agents who are devoted to helping you discover your ideal office space for rent in Central London. If your business is looking for a commercial property or you would like further information on Central London office to let we can help. Our contact information is available on our website.

London’s West End: Centuries Of Urban Development is a post from: WiredWriter

The docks that were close to the Thames River were bombed a lot during World War II. For two straight years, between the years 1939 and 1941, the bombs fell non-stop all over the port that was associated with the Thames River. Once the bombing was finally over, the whole area that contained the docks and the port was in horrible condition.

The amount of missiles that fell on the area around the Thames River numbered around 900. Not only did missiles fall in that neighborhood, but a huge number of other kinds of bombs as well. Coombe Hill was not the only neighborhood to be badly bombed, many were nearly destroyed because of the constant bombing runs.

Located in the Royal Borough of Kingston, Coombe Hill is a popular place to live in London. The neighbourhood of Coombe Hill is considered to be a very high class place. What makes Coombe Hill such a desirable neighbuorhood is its proximity to the Thames.

What makes Coombe Hill so ritzy is the fact that it is close to the Coombe Wood Golf Course. The streets that are part of Coombe Hill are called Greenwood Park and Devey Close. The property value of the area of Coombe Hill is set at millions of GB pounds.

When World War II finally came to an end, it was time to fix everything that the war had destroyed. The biggest casualty of the war was London’s port, which needed major reconstruction. However, after the dock was opened once again it flourished having reached its highest trade of 61 tonnes in 1964.

Though trading was topping all kinds of huge amounts, by the late 1960′s the trade began to go down because of the introduction of containerisation. The reason why containerization hit the dock so hard was the fact that the containers could hold massive amounts of cargo. Because the containers could carry such large amounts, the old fashioned way of doing things was becoming obsolete.

The use of the Port of London and its docks continued to decline all throughout the 1970′s and 1980′s. Finally by 1981, things had reached the point of where something had to be done and the London Docklands Development Corporation had the idea to fix the docks and restore them to their former glory. The London Docklands Development Corporation was formed, and the goal was to perform reconstruction on the docks. By 1983, the Thames Barrier in Woolwich was finished, and the structure contained 10 gates that span across the Thames. This structure is now one of the most recognizable in London, and its construction helped save the Port of London from ruin.

We are a premier letting agents with considerable expertise and a wide choice of 1 bedroom properties for rent in Coombe Hill. If you are thinking about moving or would like to learn more about our team go to our website or call us.

Coombe Hill And The River Thames-Information About The Area is a post from: WiredWriter

A short distance from central London, Mapesbury Estate is an area that has a lot of history associated with it. Mapesbury Estate was built around Mapesbury House, the houses constructed between 1870 – 1885, and its history made it worthy enough to be designated a conservation area.

Conservation areas began around London in 1967. Over the past almost 50 years, there are over 8 thousand areas of England that have been deemed worthy of conservation. All 8 thousand conservation areas are being treated in a special way because of their historical value.

Many different structures and areas have had a very unique history. Areas that are on the list of conservation areas include towns, villages, and country home. When it comes to what makes a village or home a conservation area, the answer comes from the Borough Council or the Secretary of State or the National Heritage organisation.

The label of being a conservation area is very important. Any piece of property that has designated as conservation property has to be treated with the utmost care and consideration. Anyone that either lives or works in a building that has been deemed a conservation area needs to consult the Borough Council before making any changes to the property.

Any work that is done to a historical property might change the value of the history or accidentally do something to ruin it. The local borough council has to find out exactly what the person living on the conservation area wants to do. If a person has any kind of questions about what exactly they can do to their property they need to contact the council.

The yard of any conservation property is just as valuable as any home or structure. Some of the yard, which includes the vegetation, has been around as long as some of the structures, so they are also part of the permission that is needed to do any kind of work. Sometimes permission is given for major yard changes, but sometimes the permission is denied in the name of conservation.

The value of land that is considered a conservation area is quite high. Research was done by the London School of Economics and their findings were quite interesting. People who want someplace new to live often prefer to live in conservation areas because of their historical significance.

We are a leading estate agent with a wide choice of 1 bedroom properties for sale in Mapesbury Estate. If you’re currently looking for a new property or would like to find out more about selling flats in Mapesbury Estate give a call or visit our website.

Information About Mapesbury Estate Conservation Area is a post from: WiredWriter

This is the West End of London: The historic centre within reach of Westminster City boundaries. While most of West End’s entertainment program can be found in the area of Covent Garden and Leicester Square, the more shopping interested visitors will head towards Bond St., Oxford St. and Regent St.

In the West End of London you find The Savoy, The Trafalgar, the Mountbatten Hotel, The Langham or the St Martins Lane Hotel, among others. It is here that one can find London’s best hotels.

Also, visitors wouldn’t want to miss out on the West End’s theatre scene. The West End theatres can easily compare to New York City’s Broadway. The West End’s 40 theatres offer absolute world class. The performances featured in West End theatres are usually of the classic, musical or comedy kind. Billy Elliot, Phantom of the Opera, Wicked or Les Miserables are to be seen alongside other grand classics like The Woman in Black, War Horse or The Mousetrap. The capital’s West End theatres are a must-see for anyone taking their London visit seriously.

Exploring the West End of the English Capital doesn’t limit itself to the big-name fashion addresses like Ralph Lauren, Hamleys or the Apple Store, which can be found in the world-class shopping area around Oxford, Regent and Bond Street. The more adventurous will want to check out the smaller, less-renowned shopping opportunities Carnaby St, St Christopher’s Place and St Martin’s Courtyard have to offer.

Don’t miss out on the opportunities to explore the rich choice of excellent restaurants and bars. London’s West End has a lot to offer in this field. Whether the evening is only starting and you wish to enjoy a quick meal before going to the theatre, or simply wish to make new gourmet experiences, the West End can give you what you are after.

Whether you are looking for a diner in Regent Street or near Carnaby, or want to try Covent Garden, the St Martin’s Courtyard and Opera Quarter, the West End has much to offer. While the first are renowned for Jamie’s Italian restaurant or the Opera Tavern with its great tapas, the latter can offer Japanese tastes at the Aqua Kyoto, or new taste experiences at Polpo’s.

The West End has many trendy locations to offer all night long. Be it for a late drink or for the dancefloor, the city never sleeps. Keep the Albannach or the Dirty Martini in mind. Dancers will head for the Cafe de Paris, for example.

Many opportunities await the visitor of West end during the holidays. The New Year’s Parade during winter and the West End Live free musical events are not to be missed. Oxford St and Regent St are traffic-free on many of West Ender family-friendly events.

We are a top estate agents with a large selection of 4 bedroom houses for sale in the West End. If you’re interested in moving now or in the near future, or would like to know more about West End apartments to sell give us a call. Our experienced agents are always pleased to help.

Visiting The West End Of London is a post from: WiredWriter