We are delighted that London Block Management has recently been appointed to manage the prestigious Harrods Village in Barnes, an idyllic and historic location situated next to Hammersmith Bridge, on the banks of the Thames. Harrods Village was constructed in 1857, then known as Colonel Lewis Cowan's Soap Works, beginning its life as a factory to produce soap before expanding into candle-making and sugar-refining. In 1888, a devastating fire tore through the sugar refinery, resulting in considerable job losses, and sadly, the entire development closed its doors in 1892.
Fortunately, Harrods seized the opportunity to purchase the entire development, saving it from disrepair and repurposing it as a repository for their Knightsbridge store. Later, in the mid-1990s, Berkeley Homes acquired the site and converted the building into 206 flats and 42 townhouses. The luxurious residential development includes an on-site leisure centre comprising a 25-metre swimming pool, a sauna and a gym, and the ten acres of grounds have undergone extensive landscaping, positioning the buildings within pockets of idyllic and peaceful grounds.
The numerous buildings within the development comprise new-build homes that sit alongside several converted buildings from the original site. The historic, listed buildings have several outstanding architectural features; they are an unaltered example of a particular form of early reinforced concrete (invented in 1903 and extensively used in the car factories of Detroit), and they have spectacular terracotta facades. The interior of these listed buildings is just as impressive, with residents welcomed by a fine Baroque-style entrance hall in Carrera marble and the original mahogany doors still intact.
As a property management company specialising in managing large and complex historic sites, London Block Management is uniquely positioned to manage Harrods Village, with our expertise in managing properties of this type coming to the forefront.
The Harrods Village development is a unique and special place, steeped in history and surrounded by beautifully kept grounds. We are thrilled to have been appointed to manage this remarkable development, and we look forward to working together with residents and seeing what the future holds for Harrods Village.