New homes in London: Lamb Brewery Studios

Chiswick Mall is one of west London’s hidden gems. Tucked away behind Lamb Brewery Studios alongside Great West Road, this riverside stretch is a charming jumble of period houses ranging from gorgeous Georgian residences to quirky 20th-century infills.

Francis Stickney, of River Homes estate agents, says: “Very few of the houses have been split into flats, and homes are normally passed down to the next generation, so they are always sought after.”

The community spirit is fostered by a shared concern of flooding. Some houses have a garden patch bordering the Thames and there is a local warning system to prevent cars from being marooned.

Water, of course, was the reason brewers set up business in this part of London. The Lamb Brewery building, which loomed over the local medieval parish church at the entrance to Chiswick Mall, was the brewhouse for Bedford House, a grand mansion built by the Russell family, the earls of Bedford, in the mid-17th century.

The brewery was rebuilt in 1901 and boasts a splendid water tower, but brewing ceased in 1922 and the site became a warehouse. Now it is being redeveloped into lofts and offices.

There are charming Crittall metal-framed windows, but the spaces are fairly basic — not the refined, polished finishes you get in fashionable central London enclaves. The draw is the location. Prices from £995,000. Call 0800 074 0750.