Guardians of St John’s Wood
Fri 20 Sep 2019
Paul Bennett, Director
Dating back to the 13th century, St John’s Wood is stepped in history and with much of the neighbourhood covered by a conservation area, the St John’s Wood Society is a respected association dedicated to preserving the beauty, history and character of the area.
What is the St John’s Wood Society?
The society’s history stretches back to 1956, when a group of local people came together to counter a threat to the character of the local area. In 1963, the society was instrumental in the listing of many buildings and the designation of the St John’s Wood Conservation Area – the first such area in London and only the second in the UK.
Today the St John’s Wood Society’s objectives include:
-
To encourage high standards of architecture and town planning
-
To stimulate public interest in and care for the beauty, history and character of St Johns Wood
-
To encourage the preservation, development and improvement of features of general public amenity or historic interest
-
To oppose poor development in any part of St John’s Wood which, in the informed view of the society, would detract from the beauty, history and character of the area
Why work so hard to preserve the St John’s Wood character?
The work of the St John’s Wood Society is crucial in upholding the neighbourhood’s appeal for current residents and future generations. The conservation areas and traditional, often regal, feel of St John’s Wood is a most redeeming feature, particularly for international movers who crave a slice of more genteel capital city life.
With some of the finest houses and most distinct architecture in London, there is a need to ensure St John’s Wood is preserved. Our rich melting pot of property types is almost unanimously united in its fine calibre. From semi-detached villas and the grand white stucco mansions of Little Venice to Art Deco edifices and imposing mansion blocks, the NW8 neighbourhood represents a rich tapestry of styles that document different eras of London’s architecture.
There are even restrictions on estate agents
Such is the importance of preserving the beauty of the area, certain parts of St John’s Wood are covered by a ‘Regulation 7 Direction’, which requires planning permission and the adherence to other stringent rules when intending to display estate agent boards. For Behr & Butchoff, it is a small price to pay for keeping the street scenes as unblemished as possible, and you can always find our available properties online and in our St John’s Wood branch.
Own a slice of St John’s Wood’s history
Behr & Butchoff is pleased to represent a number of properties for sale across St John’s Wood where there’s well preserved heritage and architectural flair. Current options include this magnificent four-bedroom, three bathroom apartment situated in the imposing North Gate mansion block. More substantial accommodation can be found within this six-bedroom, five-bathroom period house for sale on Queen’s Grove, complete with Regency details and off street parking.
You can visit the St John’s Wood Society website for more information about its work and if you are interested in moving to the local area, contact Behr & Butchoff today for the latest homes for sale and to let across NW8.