Abell & Cleland House, an Overview

Situated in the City of Westminster’s parliamentary district, Abell & Cleland House is a prestigious, new development that will appeal to sophisticated and discerning movers and shakers. Developed by respected house builders, Berkeley Homes, Abell & Cleland are two developments that offer luxury living in a central London location. With 275 apartments across the two developments ranging from one to four bedroom flats and penthouses, Abell & Cleland offers something for everyone within the affluent, urban demograph.

A History of Abell & Cleland House

The original Abell & Cleland Houses that Berkeley Homes are replacing were two, stark edifices that served as government buildings for many years.

Our research cannot throw any light on why they are called Abell & Cleland, but both names are believed to be of Anglo-Scottish descent. We think it unlikely however that Cleland is named after Scottish footballer, Alec Cleland as he was only born in 1970. It is slightly more feasible that Abell house may be named after George Abell, the English civil servant and cricketer who died in 1989.

Personally, this author would like to think that Cleland House is named after the English novelist, John Cleland, whose most famous work ‘Fanny Hill; The memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure,’ was only published in its unexpurgated form in 1963. It was then banned again and finally legally published in 1970. This is despite the fact that the very point of Fanny Hill is that it is an erotic novel without the use of any vulgar terms.

One suspects however that Margaret Thatcher’s government who would have commissioned the original Abell & Cleland House are unlikely to have dedicated one of them to such an author. Though perhaps somewhat ironically it was Mayflower Books, now dissolved but then based on Vauxhall Bridge Road very close to Abell and Cleland House, who first published the uncensored edition.

A final, tenuous link is that John Cleland was also an ex-pupil of nearby Westminster School but was allegedly expelled for some undisclosed ‘misdemeanour’!

Returning to the developments true history; Abell & Cleland House sits on an area that was known as Thorney Island. The island existed because of the rivers and tributaries that ran all over London down into the River Thames making 18^th Century London more reminiscent of Venice than the modern, sprawling metropolis we know now. It wasn’t until the Victorian Era and the creation of the Thames Embankment that London’s marshlands were reclaimed from the Thames and London was given a more solid foundation, literally, on which to build and prosper.

Living & Investing In Abell & Cleland House

Developed by Berkeley Homes and designed by DSDHA architects, Abell & Cleland House have their own identities yet complement the surrounding streetscape. The dark, formidable Government buildings have been replaced with a residential development that uses light, uplifting materials with a triple height entrance lobby alongside a pedestrian route to create a visually transparent vista.

The landscaping of the private gardens by Wirtz International has been designed to emphasise the fluid transition from public highway – through the lobby – into private space resulting in an aesthetic allure with a literal airiness.

Inside Abell & Cleland House, interior designers, Project Orange have produced a series of superbly elegant modern apartments. Taking their cue from the refined exterior and local environment which includes Monuments, Parks and Rivers , Project Orange have combined a palette of golden and neutral hues with metallic highlights, natural materials and a ‘midtown modern’ concept that is reminiscent of a Manhattan apartment mixing luxurious comfort in the centre of a bustling city.

As such, these stylish apartments will appeal to likeminded individuals searching for a London home or wise investment. Buyers like yourself will appreciate the level of detail and will of course expect the best amenities. You will not be disappointed. 24hr concierge, business suite, private gym, pool sauna and private screening room all being part of the development.

Abell & Cleland House & Beyond

Stepping out from the triple height lobby, residents of Abell & Cleland House will be stepping into arguably London’s most important district. But then as intelligent readers you already know that. However it is London’s ability to constantly surprise and reinvent itself that makes it such a world class destination.

Perhaps it is no accident that the architects of Abell & Cleland House used metallic finishes, tactile materials and multi-faceted forms. After all, DSHDA were responsible for the flagship store and workshops of jewellery designer Alex Monroe. Based in the nearby and achingly fashionable Bermondsey Street area, Monroe has built up a reputation as one of London’s most sought after jewellery designers. Indeed, one would not be surprised to find one or two of Alex’s baubles in the trinket boxes of Abell & Cleland residents.

Westminster itself is home to possibly the oldest trinket box in the form of the Jewel Tower. Not to be confused with the Jewel House in the Tower of London, The Jewel Tower is a surviving annexe of the original Westminster Palace and housed King Edward III’s valuables, it being at the time protected by a moat. In the 16^th Century it was then used by Henry VIII as a walk-in wardrobe!

Certainly such history implies the pedigree and lifestyle of Westminster resident’s both then and now.

Current residents are likely to be found dining in the well respected Le Caprice or enjoying cocktails in the newly refurbished Mezzanine bar at Quaglino’s. Shopping-wise, London’s famous Bond Street or Sloane Square offer the best designer brands though it may well be that the increasingly discerning London Resident will continue to seek out the more independent shops that London continues to offer in an ever-increasing spread of districts. Whether that be the many boutiques jostling for space alongside Alex Monroe’s Copper clad workshop or the esoteric collection of shops that make up Shoreditch’s ‘Box Park’. Either way, Abell & Cleland House has set the standard for new, urban living.