Ex-vicarage for sale for first time in 129 years

One of Penzance's "most important and majestic houses" is being put up for sale by the Diocese of Truro after 129 years.

The Grade II* former vicarage for the Church of St Mary was last on the market in 1896 and will be sold by formal tender in April, with an asking price in excess of £850,000.

Agents Lillicrap Chilcott said the building on Chapel Street was "surely one of the town's most important period buildings".

The Diocese of Truro said the large building, which had been empty for nearly two years, was "no longer appropriate for modern parish ministry" and it had explored other potential uses including with Cornwall Council and housing associations.

A spokeswoman said: "The house is an important asset to the town and the church and decisions on its future are not made lightly."

She added that the building's listed status, the complexity and cost of any conversion, and the tight restrictions on modernisation in a conservation area "have proven too challenging for the parish, diocese and other partners, so we are offering the property for sale".

She added the proceeds would be used to support the ministry in the diocese.

The three-storey town house with cellar dates to 1701, according to English Heritage.

The agents said it might have served as a bank as well as a house before the church bought it and features in an 1800 artwork of Penzance by H P Tremenheere.

It includes a grand staircase with artwork in carved picture frames above it.

The property has five bedrooms and is set in a 0.35 acre garden.

Agent Andrew Chilcott said: "Increasingly so, vicarages of this calibre are rarely available.

"It's so unusual to get a historic house like this with many features intact come on to the market, that there's a really wonderful opportunity for someone wanting to become its next custodian."

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