Five gorgeous developments that give a new lease of life to centuries-old landmarks
A multi-coloured Georgian terrace in Bristol and a historic old company headquarters in the centre of London are among the old buildings being turned into beautiful new homes – Annunicata Walton reports.
Bristol, from £325,000 – Redcliffe Parade
 
A pleasingly multi-coloured Bristol landmark has been converted into individually-designed one- and two-bedroom flats. Redcliffe Parade West is the much-loved Georgian terrace that overlooks the Floating Harbour.
 
The façade of the townhouses has been retained, along with many original features, which complement handmade Neptune kitchens and integrated Neff appliances.
 
The Redcliffe Parade apartments are for sale via Knight Frank and Ocean Homes, starting at £325,000 – the listing for this one-bed has more details and pictures, while here is a listing for a £460,000 two-bed equivalent.
Central London, from £4.35m – Oceanic House
 
At the north-west corner of Trafalgar Square, WC2, is beautiful, Grade II-listed Oceanic House – the former London headquarters of the Oceanic Steam Navigation Company, more commonly known as the ticket office for the White Star Line of Titanic fame. You’ve probably walked past it a hundred times and not realised that it was in this very building’s boardroom that company chairman Bruce Ismay famously boasted of his ‘unsinkable’ ship.
 
Over the years, the landmark building has seen much better luck than the ship it’s associated with and has now been given a new lease of life, as an exclusive development of six luxury residences and a two-storey penthouse. As part of the transformation, the uppermost façade of the building, removed in the 1960s, has been reinstated.
 
The six two- and three-bedroom residences, which vary between 1,679 sq ft and 5,447 sq ft and of which five are available, start at £4.35 million via agents Strutt & Parker.
This two-bed flat comes in at £5.75m, while here’s a three-bedroom at £12m.
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
 
The four-bedroom penthouse, with interiors by Morpheus London, is a cool £19.5 million. You can see pictures of that one here:
 
Southwark, £3.5m – A former bear pit frequented by Samuel Pepys
 
Mere heckling distance from Shakespeare’s Globe, huge care has gone into creating a contemporary living space with historic character at Grade II-listed Pepys House – a former bear pit on London's South Bank, once frequented by the great diarist himself.
 
With high, vaulted ceilings exposing the original timber trusses, triple-aspect arched windows and plenty of open space, this four-bedroom maisonette is bathed in natural light.
 
Pepys House is on the market with Jackson-Stops at £3.5 million – see more details here.

Gallows, solicitors...and a Prime Minister: The history of Connaught Square
Connaught Square is well-known for much more than providing Tony Blair with a residence in London
 
Credit: Titanic Hotel, Belfast
Titanic Hotel, Belfast review: A shipyard escape
John Goodall paid a visit to Belfast's recently-opened Titanic Hotel, a place full of clever themed touches to celebrate the
 
The 10 most memorable telegrams ever sent, from hydrogen bombs to boiled eggs
Rob Crossan recounts the stories behind the most legendary, curious and useless telegrams ever sent.
Save
Annunciata is director of contemporary art gallery TIN MAN ART and an award-winning journalist specialising in art, culture and property. Previously, she was Country Life’s News & Property Editor. Before that, she worked at The Sunday Times Travel Magazine, researched for a historical biographer and co-founded a literary, art and music festival in Oxfordshire. Lancashire-born, she lives in Hampshire with a husband, two daughters and a mischievous pug.
- 
What links myself, David Beckkam and The King? We all have an affinity for the Aston Martin DB6, a car that has been unfairly punished for not being in a James Bond filmThe Aston Martin DB6 is better than the DB5, and I am tired of pretending that it isn't.
By James Fisher Published
 - 
Great Danes: These gentle giants need space, strength and industrial-strength sofasGreat Danes were originally bred to hunt big game, but they’re more into cuddles than killing.
By Florence Allen Published
 
- 
Five glorious properties for sale from the 11th to the 21st centuryA tithe barn, a Grade I-listed Norman keep, and a Georgian masterpiece all graced the pages of Country Life this week
By James Fisher Published
 - 
You can now rent King William IV’s former home in London’s Mayfair — for a princely sumThe London property — with royal lineage — is on the market with the estate agency Wetherell for £25,000 a week.
By Lotte Brundle Published
 - 
Dream of revolution inside the 18th-century villa once occupied by Napoleon's French troopsAn apartment inside historic Villa Gnecchi Ruscone is on the market and it comes with a grand ballroom rumoured to have been frequented by Napoleon.
By Lotte Brundle Published
 - 
May the force be with you if you move into this London apartment block that Obi-Wan Kenobi (and Cher) once lived inOliver’s Wharf was once the residence of megastar Cher and the actor Sir Alec Guinness — as well as Mark Knopfler of the Dire Straits.
By Lotte Brundle Published
 - 
125 glorious acres of Elizabethan elegance for sale in Cheshire that comes with a moatIs this real life? Is it just fantasy? No, it's Holford Hall.
By Annabel Dixon Published
 - 
Look around this James Bond-themed house for sale in Nottinghamshire and release your inner MI6 agentNow, come, come dear reader, you get as much fulfilment out of Skyfall as I do, so why don't you admit it?
By James Fisher Published
 - 
The eclectic New York townhouse that Lily Allen sings about in her new, headline-making album is for sale381, Union Street is on the market just days after the singer’s latest album details the alleged infidelity in her marriage.
By Lotte Brundle Published
 - 
This Suffolk home is a perfect escape from the world and it comes with its own stretch of river and 20 acresThis idyllic home in Suffolk is the perfect village home.
By Julie Harding Published
 
