Sale Of The Century

Ben and Fiona Edwards bought a house that had been in the same family for almost 100 years and guided it into a new era

- Anna Tobin

Show homes are often regarded as a modern phenomenon, but they were popular even in Victorian times, as this terrace in southwest London proves. It was built as a model home for an estate in Richmond in the late 19th century. ‘The houses on this side of the street, which were all show homes, have lots of additional features, such as higher ceilings and greater detailing on the façades, making them look extra special,’ explains Ben Edwards, who bought the historic property with his wife Fiona in 2013.

The previous owners had inherited the property from their relatives, and lived in the house for 99 years, so the couple are only the second family to inhabit the house. They were not put offby the fact that it hadn’t been modernised since the Sixties. ‘It was draughty and damp,’ says Fiona, ‘It had a tiny galley kitchen, the downstairs cloakroom was in a lean-to and the whole place had a fusty smell. Nevertheless, Ben and I loved the high ceilings and that it was full of light, and instantly saw its potential. We realised we could extend into the side return and convert the loft. It was a true diamond in the rough.’