25/04/2026
BEFORE / AFTER: Charles Square
No. 16 Charles Square stands as the sole survivor of a once-complete Georgian garden square. This Grade II*-listed building is believed to sit on the site of an earlier manor or hunting lodge where Charles II and Nell Gwyn carried out their infamous affair. Perhaps that is the origin story that gives the surrounding streets their names, “King”, “Queen”, and “Crown”; a mythology that still seems to linger in the area.
By the late 17th century, the current Georgian house had taken form, incorporating the cellars of the earlier structure. Initially, it became the Shoreditch County Court, before transitioning in the 20th century into the Union of Thread and Sewing and later the Labour Party’s regional headquarters. From within these walls, major political moments unfolded, including Tony Blair’s 1997 campaign and Ken Livingstone’s run for Mayor of London. Left vacant by 2000 and considered too complex to restore, the building was eventually acquired in 2005 by DOMstay’s Founder, .
What followed was a rigorous process of negotiation between preservation and adaptation, carried out in collaboration with English Heritage, as a means to find to find the correct approach which honors the past and builds for a sustainable future. The building was reimagined into five apartments, where original Georgian features, such as the central staircase and exquisite wood panelling, become central to the language. Contemporary interventions are of course introduced to give a modern minimalist edge, such as the mirrored bathroom walls and the precisely engineered kitchens by .
We’re very excited to be introducing the building back to the market, with Flats 3 and 4 available for sale via .house , for the first time in over two decades.
Find out more on DOMstay.com in our design section and enquire about viewing via .house
