A Grade II-listed Victorian water tower that featured in a memorable episode of Channel 4’s Grand Designs is back on the market for £2.75 million after previously selling for £2.5 million. Located in Kennington, south London, the 10-storey landmark was bought in 2011 for £380,000 by partners Leigh Osborne and Graham Voce. Over the next two years, they spent around £2 million on major repairs and modern additions to turn the abandoned structure into a luxury five-bedroom home. The transformation featured in the 100th episode of Grand Designs in 2012, hosted by Kevin McCloud. After putting the finished property up for sale for as much as £6.5 million in 2018, the owners gradually lowered the asking price. They eventually sold the unusual home in 2021 for around £2.5 million. The property has now returned to the market, with estate agents listing it for £2.75 million.
Overcoming budget spikes and construction hurdles
When Osborne and Voce bought the 1867 water tower, it was in very poor condition. The building was filled with pigeon droppings, crumbling brickwork and rotting timber. The couple first expected to spend around £600,000 on the restoration. However, structural problems and changes to their ambitious design pushed the cost up to nearly £2 million. To cover the rising expenses, the owners stretched their finances to the limit. They used several personal loans and credit cards to pay for the work. The renovation included adding a multi-storey glass extension, nicknamed “The Cube”, at the base of the tower. It created a large, modern living space beneath the original brick structure. At the top, the tower’s historic cast-iron water tank was turned into a main bedroom suite with 360-degree views across London’s skyline.
Architectural features and historic links
The 100-foot-tall tower has a long history. It was built in 1867 to supply water to the Lambeth Workhouse. The surrounding grounds were also linked to the childhood of famous comedy actor Charlie Chaplin, who lived at the workhouse with his mother during the late 19th century. The updated property covers more than 4,000 square feet across several floors, connected by an internal lift and a central staircase. Key features of the conversion include:
- A living and dining room with glass walls inside the modern ground-floor extension.
- Five bedrooms and four bathrooms spread across the main tower.
- A top-floor viewing room and an outdoor rooftop terrace with clear views of landmarks such as Big Ben and the Shard.
- Original exposed brickwork combined with energy-efficient, triple-glazed windows.
Market trajectory and estate listings
After the project was completed in 2012, the property first went on sale in 2018 with an asking price of £6.5 million. However, it failed to attract a buyer at that price. The owners reduced the asking price several times over the next three years. In mid-2021, buyer Jamie Hamer purchased the property for around £2.5 million. At the time, Hamer said the top-floor viewing area and views of central London made the home feel like owning a private castle. Recent listings from estate agencies including The Modern House and Foxtons show that the Kennington water tower is back on the market with a guide price of £2,750,000. The agencies’ listings highlight its rare status as a Zone 1 architectural landmark that combines Victorian engineering with modern luxury interiors.
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