A six-storey Victorian townhouse in Kensington believed to be one of the first private homes in the world to feature a hydraulic passenger lift has come to market for £16.75m following a full contemporary refurbishment.
The Queen Anne-style property on Kensington Court, moments from Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park, dates from the 1880s and was built as part of an ambitious development designed to attract wealthy buyers with cutting-edge technology and modern servicing arrangements.
Today the house provides more than 6,000 sq ft of living space across six floors, combining restored period features with modern specification including air conditioning, a passenger lift, gym space and multiple reception rooms.
The home sits within the Kensington Court Conservation Area, close to Kensington Palace, and was originally developed at a time when new infrastructure such as hydraulic power, gas lighting and later electricity was transforming how large London houses were designed and used.
TECHNICAL INNOVATION
The property includes six bedrooms, seven bathrooms, four reception rooms, staff and leisure accommodation, storage vaults and two private outdoor areas, with a dedicated principal suite occupying an entire floor.
Pic credit: Beauchamp Estates ©AWinship
When the terrace was first built between 1883 and 1886, developer Jonathan T. Carr commissioned architect J.J. Stevenson, a leading figure in the Queen Anne revival movement, to create houses that would stand out for their scale and technical innovation.
Hydraulic mains installed beneath the street allowed the homes to be fitted with passenger lifts powered by the nearby London Hydraulic Power Company, removing the need for traditional back staircases and allowing larger rooms throughout the house.
The property was also among the first in Britain to receive a private domestic electricity supply after electrical pioneer Colonel R.E.B. Crompton installed a generator to serve the enclave.
WORLD FIRST
Jeremy Gee, Managing Director of Beauchamp Estates, says: “When the townhouse on Kensington Court was built in the mid-1880s, not only was it a showpiece for opulent Victorian living, but it made history as one of the very first homes in London, possibly the world, to have a hydraulic passenger lift, with electricity following soon after.
“Still state-of-the-art, the townhouse today provides beautifully restored living spaces, six ensuite bedrooms, a gym, air conditioning – and, of course, a sleek modern lift connecting the principal floors.”
LUXURY SOPHISTICATION
Vlad Viaryshka, Senior Sales Negotiator at Beauchamp Estates, adds: “In a prime West London location, moments from Kensington Gardens and Kensington High Street, this elegant red-brick Queen Anne-style townhouse on Kensington Court is immaculately presented throughout, balancing effortless luxury, sophistication, practicality and accessibility.
“With its fascinating history combined with a classic yet contemporary interior design scheme, we expect it to have huge appeal to both British and overseas families.”
