56 Old Church Street, Grade II listed house in Chelsea, London
56 Old Church Street is a Grade II listed house in Chelsea, London, built in the early 18th century. The property has large private gardens that take up much of the grounds, along with multiple bedroom suites and a ballroom added during renovations in the 1990s.
The house was built in 1725 to serve as the rectory for Chelsea parish church, housing its clergy for nearly a century. When St Luke's Church was consecrated in 1824, the property moved away from its original religious role and eventually passed into private hands.
The building served for generations as the rectory of Chelsea parish, making it a quiet centre of community life in the neighbourhood. Today it is a private residence, and its façade blends into the row of Georgian houses along the street without drawing particular attention.
The house sits on Old Church Street in Chelsea, within walking distance of the Thames embankment and the shops along the King's Road. As it is a private residence, visitors can only see the exterior from the street.
In 2001, a Norwegian shipping magnate bought the property, drawn in part by its garden, which is one of the largest privately owned in London. The garden is completely hidden from the street, so most people walking past have no idea of its size.
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