CABLE STREET, SHADWELL
A Georgian Townhouse with Naval Roots
Built circa 1780 for a sea captain, this Grade II listed East London townhouse is a remarkable survivor. Restored over fifteen years, its four floors retain an unusual depth of Georgian character, from lime-pointed brickwork and waxed floorboards to original panelling, fireplaces and winding stairs.
For Sale
HOUSE PARTICULARS
Georgian townhouse
circa 1780
Grade II listed
Four floors
St George-in-the-East Conservation Area
Guide £1,950,000
THE FAÇADE An exceptionally intact late-Georgian townhouse on Cable Street, built circa 1780.
THE ENTRANCE HALL Soft limed walls, waxed floorboards and an atmospheric approach through the house.
Built circa 1780, the house was originally associated with the area’s naval history and served as accommodation for a ship captain, a reminder of the deep maritime connections that once shaped this part of East London.
Its external character remains remarkably intact. The original brickwork and lime pointing have been deliberately preserved rather than cleaned back, allowing the house to retain the patina and texture of its age.
The setting adds another layer to that sense of continuity. The house forms part of a historic terrace within the St George-in-the-East Conservation Area, overlooked by Nicholas Hawksmoor’s church, a landmark that remains visible from the rear of the property.
VIEW FROM THE HOUSE Nicholas Hawksmoor’s St George-in-the-East, seen from the rear of the property and closely tied to the history of the surrounding conservation area.
THE REAR ELEVATION Original lime-pointed brickwork, carefully preserved to retain the texture and character of the house’s Georgian fabric.
The Heart of the House
The lower ground floor forms the informal heart of the house, with reclaimed quarry tiles, exposed beams and two substantial fireplaces.
A restored 1950s Aga sits within the deep recess of the original fireplace, while later pantry and utility spaces are concealed behind dark-painted panelling so the modern interventions remain deliberately quiet.
THE KITCHEN The lower-ground floor forms the informal heart of the house, with reclaimed quarry tiles, exposed beams and a generous central table.
THE BREAKFAST ROOM One of two substantial fireplaces on the lower-ground floor, creating a warm and unusually atmospheric everyday living space.
CONCEALED STORAGE Later pantry and utility spaces are discreetly housed behind dark-painted panelling, keeping modern interventions in sympathy with the Georgian interior.
Restoration and Detail
Much of Cable Street’s character lies in the restraint of its restoration. Original fabric has been retained wherever possible, while lost elements have been carefully repaired or recreated in ways that sit quietly alongside what survives.
Across the principal rooms, original wainscot panelling remains in place, supplemented only where sections were beyond repair. Even the marble fireplace surround in the dining room has its own remarkable story, having been discovered in pieces beneath the rear garden, then carefully reassembled and returned to its original position.
The result is not a house made to look Georgian, but one in which the accumulated marks, materials and craftsmanship of more than two centuries remain clearly legible.
THE DINING ROOM Original panelling and a marble fireplace surround painstakingly recovered, repaired and reinstated.
THE STAIRCASE Layers of the house’s history remain visible in the winding stair, including later Victorian alterations alongside surviving Georgian fabric.
the plan
The House in Plan
Arranged across four floors, Cable Street has a clear vertical rhythm: kitchen and dining spaces on the lower ground floor, two reception rooms above, and bedrooms across the first and second floors. The rear garden extends the lower level outdoors, while the upper floors retain the intimate proportions and layered character of the Georgian plan.
VIEW LARGER PLAN →
around the house
Further views
Further views reveal the house’s character in its smaller details, from original joinery, fireplaces, and layered interiors to the secluded rear garden and the wider historic setting beyond.
“The pleasure of this house lies in how completely its history still surrounds you.”
PREVIOUS OWNER
This is, above all, a house that has retained its sense of time and place: a late-Georgian home, carefully restored, richly textured and still closely tied to the maritime and architectural history of East London.
ENQUIRIES INVITED
Cable Street is offered for sale with a guide price of £1,950,000. Full particulars and private viewing arrangements are available on request.