The Abbey Abbey Street, Penzance, Cornwall, 9 bedroom, Detached

Description

Since 1979 The Abbey has been privately owned and run, initially as a much acclaimed, award winning boutique hotel with a country house character for more than 36 years featuring extensively in the national and international press. Since 2015 it reopened as a luxury self-catering property administered through Sykes Holiday Cottages with The Abbey complex of properties split into three units forming the main house and two attached self contained apartments. The accommodation exudes a calm atmosphere through a series of elegant rooms with a timeless quality and is offered for sale for the first time in more than 44 years. The original building dates from 1660 around the time the Spanish raided Newlyn, Mousehole and Paul and was rebuilt after this event before being modernised in 1820 in the distinctive style of Georgian Gothic when the drawing room was added. History suggests that The Abbey may have been connected with the Abbey on St Micheal's Mount, possibly as a pied a terre for monks when the sea was too rough for crossing to the Mount. The Abbey remained a private house until after the Second World War when it became a hotel. The current vendors purchased the property carrying out significant works at that time with special emphasis to protect the period features of the era. The striking stucco facade now painted a vivid shade of sky blue heavily contrasts with the white painted windows, label moulds and decorative fenestration set behind white railings and an established hedge. The rear elevation is largely slate hung following more vernacular design. The windows themselves are a mixture of casement and sashes with distinctive arched tracery. The roof covering is traditionally Cornish being scantle slate (small Cornish slates which have been laid to a triple lap gauge on a mortar bed) with a deep panelled eaves soffit. Adjacent to the main building lies two apartments originally cottages dating from the 18th century built of whitewashed rubble beneath a half hipped roof. The Abbey occupies a magnificent commanding clifftop position overlooking Abbey Turning Basin with Ross Swing Bridge allowing vessels to enter the dry dock facilities below with views beyond to the shipyard, harbour and St Michael's Mount. The Abbey is one of Cornwall's most important Listed buildings and lies within the Penzance Promenade Conservation Area being well situated within walking distance of all town amenities, being much admired, photographed and depicted in numerous Cornish paintings. Floor plans show the aspect and layout of the accommodation with approximate measurements. There is a projecting porch built in the gothic renaissance style leading to an attractive pine staircase with elegant well stairs having turned balusters, square newel and moulded string rising two floors with a large window giving a wonderful glimpse of the garden. A door from the hall leads down to the basement with wine cellarage and separate W.C. There is a useful office close the front door. The kitchen at the front of the property has shaker style cupboards and drawers with beech bloc work surfaces, well equipped for semi commercial purposes with a ceramic tiled floor. Beyond the kitchen is a rear hall with doors leading off to various domestic stores, the back door with access to the courtyard. The magnificent drawing room accessed off a mezzanine from the main staircase has an moulded chimney piece with open grate fire and canopy, fitted book shelving to one wall and a pair of deep sash windows with working shutters rising almost floor to ceiling looking out onto the garden. The tall ceiling has an ornate plastered cornice and ceiling rose. The elegant dining room has fine quality oak panelling with bolection mouldings and cornice, working window shutters and a brick built arched fireplace with an open fire grate. The grand first floor landing has decorated moulded arched openings giving access to three superb bedroom suits all with elevated sea views each with their own unique character. A secondary staircase provides access to the attic floor with the second floor landing running the entire length of The Abbey with an oval shaped occuli window on the gable end providing a lovely vista towards the harbour and a door with fire escape at the other end. There are three second floor double bedrooms one with a dressing room, two of which are en suite together with a separate shower room. Attached to The Abbey are two self contained apartments each with their own entrance doors both operated as holiday lets with the first floor apartment being the larger of the two (Mount View) having a magnificent view from a picture window directly towards the harbour. OUTSIDE Set behind secure timber gates and walling with decorative pineapple shaped finials is a beautiful private walled garden being typically Cornish having a relaxed old world charm full of intrigue and year round interest. The cobbled courtyard is laid to an Archimedean pattern with a mature acacia tree to one corner allowing numerous vehicles to park and turn. Truly a plantspersons garden with thoughtful planting and landscaping laid out with aesthetical aplomb. Granite rock walls provide structure and the adjacent properties to the west provides an interesting backdrop to the foliage and flowers, whilst clearings in the vegetation reveal a stunning vista towards the harbour. There are topiary box hedges, herbaceous perennials, tender sub tropical plants and old fashioned varieties of roses with numerous areas for outside summer dining. A yew hedge disguises the main lawned garden situated adjoining the drawing room entered through an archway in the hedge planted with acidic loving plants including specimen camellias, azaleas and rhododendrons being particularly colourful in springtime. There is a further area of sheltered garden lying to the east front of the property across Abbey Street set behind a high stone wall accessed through a wrought iron gate with the extent of the property including Abbey Cliff Face.
Council tax band: Not Required

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Key Features

Enchanting landmark building formerly a renowned small country house hotel
One of Cornwall's most important Listed buildings dating from 1660
Substantial accommodation extending to about 6475 sq ft
Scope for numerous future uses (STP)
Available for the first time in more than 44 years

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