1960s Stafford Pollard time capsule house in Hayes, south-east London
Perfectly preserved, this 1960s Stafford Pollard time capsule house in Hayes, south-east London is for sale for the very first time.
Hayes is in the London borough of Bromley, with this throwback property overlooking Hayes Common and just a five-minute walk from Hayes train station. So well located, that’s for sure.
But that isn’t why I am talking about this particular house. This one is all about period authenticity, with the house pretty much untouched since 1964, the year of its construction.
The house was designed and built by Stafford Pollard architects and at the time, this was forward-thinking domestic architecture. Not radical, but pretty much the 1960s dream.
It still is, which is why so many people will be desperate to get their hands on this one.
So many original features have been preserved here, not least that amazing original kitchen, a rare find that really does need looking after. Beyond that, you also get a ‘dramatic’ galleried staircase with original light fittings, which wraps the entrance hall and creates what the agent describes as ‘a generosity in proportions rarely encountered in contemporary architecture’.
Other details of note inside include the internal doors, the wood ceilings, the period light fittings, the room dividers, the original cupboards and wardrobes, even some (or possibly all) of the original decoration. Whether you want the original bathrooms is down to personal taste but if you do, they are here as well.
Bottom line. You will struggle to find a time capsule like this and in this kind of condition without a long, hard search.
In terms of the space, the house is laid out over two floors. To the left of the entrance hall, beyond a pair of glazed doors, is a large living and dining room which runs the entire width of the ‘plan’ and has access to the garden at the rear of the house. Note that the room has an original parquet floor, but it is currently concealed beneath some carpet. But maybe something to bring back into play.
The rear of the house has glazing along the entire run of the ground floor, boosting the natural light through the communal spaces. Back here you will find that original kitchen (with a serving hatch to the reception space), with all of the original units still in place, along with the tiled splash-backs and a curved wood-veneer breakfast bar.
Finishing things off on the ground floor is an art room, which could be used as an extra bedroom, a WC and a storage room under the stairs.
The galleried staircase takes you to the first floor, which has four bedrooms. The master bedroom at the rear of the house has a balcony which runs the length of the rear of the house, overlooking the garden and the common beyond. It also has an en-suite bathroom. There’s a study also on this floor, which may or may not work as extra bedroom space. Get your tape measure out.
Outside space as well, made up of a garden with a mature silver birch tree, a flowering cherry tree and winter jasmine. You also get a large double garage and beyond the house, Hayes Common, a large open green space linking to Keston Common and expansive woodland.
The agent adds that the original condition means some modernisation will be required, but that will doubtless show up at a viewing and via a survey. You will probably want to sort out both before you part with the £880,000 asking price.
Images and details courtesy of the Modern House. For more details and to make an enquiry, please visit the website.
