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Leaning tower of Rotherhithe is going up for auction!

Publish Date: 23 February 2023

By Jade Shrubsole

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Further reading

Is this the big sell off?

Buying an HMO at auction

Leaning tower of Rotherhithe is going up for auction!

Once owned by Winston Churchill’s nephew this unusual building now stands alone where other buildings alongside were destroyed in the blitz! This is a once in a generation opportunity that holds much history and an insight to a building of that era.

Lot 28 in Savills auction is set to go under the hammer on 1st March with a guide price of £1.5 million.

Savills comment on the property:

“The substantial four-storey industrial-style residential property, filled with history and intrigue, was once part of a row of buildings destroyed by bombs in World War 2, is a unique glimpse into life and property of that era. It was once owned by the barge company Braithwaite & Dean and was the office where lightermen would pull up in their barges to collect their wages. During the pre-war ear it was formed of separate studios which housed artists and watermen alike. Stepped in history, this property is now under auction at Savills in a once in a generation sale. 

The house, formerly known as 41 Rotherhithe Street, was home to one of The Mitford sisters, Nancy’s younger sister Jessica (or Decca) and her husband Esmond Romilly (Winston Churchill’s nephew) from 1937 to 1939. The sixth daughter of Lord Redesdale moved to London’s industrial heartland after eloping to Spain and marrying Esmond. Lord Snowdon lived along the row in a former coal store.

1 Fulford Street (Lot 28) has a guide price of £1.5m and is being offered to the market for the first time in 28 years.”

Photo source: Savills:

The property was once owned by Victorian barge company Braithwaite & Dean and used as the office where lightermen —workers on lighter, flat-bottomed barges who carried cargoes from larger ships— would pull up to collect their wages. 

Photo Source: Museum of London

Savills say this is one of the most of unique properties they have had come to auction in recent years so this will be one to watch!