Blackheath Pagoda - the 18th-century house with links to royalty

Located in Pagoda Gardens, it is one of the most visually unique buildings in Lewisham, with its whimsical-looking Chinoiserie architecture, complete with a roof featuring sweeping upturned corners and oval windows.

Now a private home, the Pagoda once housed royalty before being used as a children’s home and later returning to residential use.  

The Grade II* listed building was constructed between around 1760 and 1780, and is widely believed to have been designed by Sir William Chambers.

Today, it remains one of Britain's rarest surviving examples of Chinoiserie architecture, a style inspired by Chinese design.

Originally the Pagoda was built as a summer pavilion within the grounds of the former Montagu House estate.

One of the most intriguing chapters in the Pagoda's history involves Princess Caroline of Brunswick, the estranged wife of the future King George IV.  

Following her separation from the Prince Regent, Caroline moved to Blackheath around 1798 and made use of both Montagu House and the nearby Pagoda.

During her time there, she is believed to have established a nursery for orphaned children, although rumours soon circulated that one of the youngest children in attendance was in fact her own child conceived with a secret lover.

This became one of the biggest scandals of the Georgian period and reached its peak in 1806 with an official inquiry known as the "Delicate Investigation".

While the allegations against Caroline were never proven, the controversy dominated Regency society and made Blackheath synonymous with one of the era's most sensational royal scandals.

Throughout the 19th century, the building was extended and adapted for residential use, becoming home to several private families.

The house remained in private ownership during this period and underwent a number of alterations before later being used as a children's home operated by the London County Council.  

It subsequently served as a boys' hostel, a family home and temporary accommodation for Tamil refugees before eventually returning to private ownership.

The Pagoda has even enjoyed a small-screen career. It was used as a filming location for the first-ever episode of BBC mystery drama Jonathan Creek in 1997, while it also featured in ITV's Murder Investigation Team.  

Despite its royal history and television appearances, the building fell into disrepair during the late 20th century and was added to English Heritage's Heritage at Risk Register in the early 1990s.

The house was purchased by architect Philip Cooper and his wife Caroline in 1991, who embarked on an extensive restoration project.

Over several years they carefully restored the historic structure, transforming it back into a family home and securing the future of one of Blackheath's most recognisable landmarks.

Today, the building enjoys Grade II* listed status, a designation reserved for particularly important buildings of more than special interest.