Quirky home to rent with great views with pond and playground: one of the Grade II-listed Victorian lodges at Waterlow Park built by Sir Sydney Waterlow
Published: 30 May, 2013
by DAN CARRIER
THEY are historic lodges that boast one of the best locations in Camden, with beautiful views across the city, a 22-acre park and the delights of Highgate Cemetery on the doorstep, and the shops and cafés of Highgate Village a short walk away.
While this desirable location is normally reserved for millionaires, the chance to live in such a spot is due to be available for all, after the Town Hall decided last week that the Grade II-listed Victorian parkkeepers’ homes at the gates of Waterlow Park should be refurbished and rented on the private market.
All funds raised from the short-term agreements the Town Hall hope to strike with potential new tenants will be ploughed into running the park.
Under plans seen by the New Journal, the two Victorian, Gothic-style houses – built by Sir Sydney Waterlow, who gave his garden to the public in 1889 – will be renovated and then put up for rent.
They were originally built for park grounds staff but have had a chequered history in recent years.
London County Council, which once managed the park, had staff living there but after Camden Council took over stewardship in the 1960s the lodges, which are painted in a creamy yellow and include Grade II-listed gates, were used for storing tools and other gardening equipment.
In the past seven years, they have also been used to offer temporary, emergency housing for people on the Town Hall’s council homes waiting lists.
The two lodges – one on Dartmouth Park Hill opposite St Joseph’s church, the other in Swains Lane by the gates of Highgate cemetery – will offer the chance to live in homes that have Waterlow Park as their back gardens – though it isn’t clear whether the new tenants will be allowed to use the park after hours.
No rent levels have been set but the homes are family sized and could bring in a sizeable monthly income from a well-heeled family looking for a quirky home with great views – and a 22-acre garden complete with ponds and playground.
A council spokesman said: “We are always looking at ways in which we can maximise the value of our assets within our parks and open spaces.
“The potential letting of the lodges in Waterlow Park could generate income that would be fed into the management of the park through the Waterlow Trust.
“We are working very closely with the friends of the park and other stakeholders in the local area and will continue to engage them as we look at the legal and planning requirements to enable this.”
• The Friends of Waterlow Park and the Waterlow Trust are meeting on Thursday, June 6, at 6.30pm at Lauderdale House for an open meeting about new proposals to manage the park.