A Lower Terrace Treat

The Hay Wain, Flatford Mill, The Curious Case of Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde and Treasure Island; these are abiding creative testaments of British artistic and literary culture, forever connected to John Constable and Robert Louis Stevenson. But they are also both recorded as previous residents of the Grade II listed Netley cottage, which is available to let with Harrods Estates in the artistic enclave of Lower Terrace, close to Hampstead Heath.

According to Historic England and British History Online, both RL Stevenson and Constable stayed at the Georgian four-bedroom property which dates back to 1779. Whist it is known that Constable spent many years living in Hampstead, specifically Well Walk, he is cited as taking a number of lets from 1819, when he began an annual summer migration to the then-rural setting. During that time, Constable painted numerous scenes depicting Hampstead Heath and its views with breathtaking cloud formations. Tate Britain has one such painting, ‘Hampstead Heath, with the House Called ‘The Salt Box’ which is believed to have been composed between 1819 and 1820 and is located on the corner of Judge’s Walk and Lower Terrace.

For Stevenson, he is commemorated with a local plaque as having lived at Abernethy House on Mount Vernon in Hampstead in 1874 but records also note that he stayed at Netley Cottage. Although Stevenson wrote Jekyll and Hyde in 1885, set in the heart of Soho, depicting an intimidating Victoria London, the illustrious writer said of the area: “Hampstead is the most delightful place for air and scenery near London”.

It is thought that Netley Cottage was originally a farmhouse, before being adapted into a charming family home, now comprising 2,055 sq. ft. Today, the house enjoys a number of modern features; a striking monochrome-styled interior, contemporary kitchen, high-quality bathrooms and shower rooms, and a large private landscaped garden with a six-seater hot tub.  There remain several historic features to the property which make it especially noteworthy. The Georgian architecture has been carefully protected, with recessed sash window and a Stucco façade, in keeping with the local conservation area.

Senior Lettings Negotiator at Harrods Estates, Robin Bogh-Henrikssen comments: “Netley Cottage is steeped in history. It seems reasonable to imagine that the elevated position on this property’s special location on Lower Terrace, could have inspired some of Constable’s most enduring paintings of Hampstead Heath with its panoramic views. The house is close to Branch Hill Road and Judge’s Walk where he was known to have painted from.”

Robin Bogh-Henrikssen adds: “In addition to the literary and artistic connections that the house has, it is also documented as the former home of Chief Justice Coleridge; one of the highest positions in England to preside over judicial cases. He was the great-nephew of the poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge and when Justice Coleridge died in 1894, he was regarded as a “firm and consistent” supporter of women’s’ suffrage. It is also speculated that the nearby passageway, Judge’s Walk, which lies behind Lower Terrace and leads on to Hampstead Heath is named after the former owner of Netley Cottage.”

The property is available immediately for long term lets on a furnished or unfurnished basis at £6,000pw, or for short term lets at £10,000pw.

Hampstead Tube station is on the Edgware branch of the Northern line with trains to the West End and the City. Hampstead Heath is on the Overground with trains to West Hampstead for the Jubilee line and Highbury & Islington for the Victoria line, both of which are in Zone 2. There are also several useful local commuter buses. The No 24 goes from South End Green to Trafalgar Square and Victoria; the No 46 goes from Hampstead High Street to King’s Cross, Holborn Viaduct and St Bartholomew’s Hospital; the No 168 goes from Haverstock Hill to Holborn and Waterloo, and the No 210 takes shoppers to Brent Cross.

Learn more here: https://www.harrodsestates.com/