House-hunters searching for a slice of history outside of London might just be in luck with this grand mansion, believed to have been built in 1701.
For sale for the first time since 1896, The Old Vicarage in Penzance, Cornwall, is a Grade II*-listed property that comes with all the quirks and character you’d hope for from a building built when William III was on the throne.
Plaster mouldings cover the ceilings above the grand staircase and entrance hall, ornate wooden frames surround historic paintings, and the sash windows sit five abreast on the building’s granite facade.
Entered via a portico with columns on either side of the entrance, the home belongs to the Diocese of Truro and comes with around 3,800-square-foot of living space across three storeys.
The floorplan offers multiple spaces suited to old-fashioned entertaining, from a generous reception room and dining room alongside the kitchen on the ground floor to twin drawing rooms on the floor above, accessed via a sweeping staircase.
Upstairs are five bedrooms and two bathrooms and there’s also a cellar divided into three individual spaces and an attic for plentiful storage with sea views from the upper floor.
The grounds – in need of a bit of TLC – extend to 0.35 acres and include a driveway with parking for two and a pair of garages.
The vicarage is in a prime Penzance location on historic Chapel Street just moments from the seafront promenade.
Those wishing to escape their city dwelling for this coastal home can do so easily by hopping on the sleeper train from Paddington in the evening and arriving in Penzance by morning. Almost commutable.
Yours for offers in excess of £850,000 via Lillicrap Chilcott, The Old Vicarage requires extensive work to bring it up to scratch for modern living – including repairing, modernising and installing a new kitchen.
Andrew Chilcott, director of the Cornish agency handling the sale, believes there’s plenty of potential in this prominent family home.
“Increasingly so, vicarages of this calibre are rarely available, making it a lovely opportunity for someone who wants to restore a fine period house in an excellent location,” he says.
“Available for the first time in more than 100 years – and having stood empty for at least the last couple – expenditure is, of course, required by an interested party to bring the interiors and garden back to their former glory.
“But it’s so unusual to get an historic house like this with all features in-tact come onto the market, that it offers great value to someone wanting to become its next custodian.”
