Lower House, Callington, Cornwall

This characterful 18th-century home lies in Callington, east Cornwall, on the fringes of the Tamar Valley National Landscape. Unfolding across approximately 4,387 sq ft of space, it comprises a set of interconnected living spaces and five en suite bedrooms, a configuration that has served its current iteration as a residential art school exceptionally well. On the top floor of the attached former coach house is a large studio with plenty of windows that usher in a painterly quality of light.



Setting the Scene



A house has stood on the site of Lower House since at least 1722. In 1788, the then building was acquired by John Coryton, who likely extended it into the Georgian home it is today. This early character is particularly present in the drawing room, where draped urn coving, wainscoting, shutters and dado details remain. In the mid-19th century the house was sold to William Dingle, who added Minton floor tiles in the hallway and a built-in safe in the dining room.



Under current ownership, the house has been used as a peaceful residential art school. An expansive home, its potential is nearly boundless, with plenty of room for artists or those in need of space for other purposes. Updates in recent years have included the installation of PV panels on the coach house roof.



The Grand Tour



Lower House’s street-facing profile is a picture of Georgian symmetry. Both its frontage and front door have been picked out in playful shades of blue; the latter opens through an internal latticed door to a hallway, which has elegant Minton-tiled floors.



Dining and drawing rooms, with their original oak doors, open from either side of the entrance hall. In this section of the house there is also an office with 18th-century latticed doors to the garden, along with a separate cloakroom. Beyond is the kitchen, an atmospheric space with original slate floors and a vintage calling board - its ring pull system is still evident in the roof space. Appliances here include a Stoves seven-burner range cooker. Beyond the kitchen is a handy utility/boot room.



Upstairs there is another original latticed window and five quiet bedrooms. Two have en suite bathrooms, while three have attached shower rooms. Picked out in different colours, these generous rooms reflect the artistic sensibilities of the home as a whole. One room facing the garden retains its Victorian gothic arch windows.



On the ground floor, beyond the utility room is a generous downstairs studio/print room/workshop, with access to the garden. A separate door leads to the garage, which retains its original cobbled stone floor.



Also beyond the utility room is a striking wide hallway beneath a slanted roof. In the past this has housed pottery kilns. Further along is a fully enclosed dark room and additional storage space. The exposed stone walls and directional track lighting offer a compelling backdrop for hanging art. Stairs ascend to the studio, a vaulted space filled with ethereal light. This large room has been used as a studio for the past 20 years; texture is brought by dark boards underfoot, whitewashed stone walls and north-facing light.



The Great Outdoors



The garden lies around the back of both buildings, with the original crenelated high stone walls around its perimeter. Here, mature shrubs, including a 200-year-old rose, camelias and euphorbias grow around a central lawn and pond.



Near the house are flagstone-laid terraces for outdoor dining. At the back wall is a side entrance to the garden through double oak gates, and a driveway for parking leading up to the garage.



Out and About



Lower House lies in a conservation area, within the oldest part of the town and close to the 15th -century church. Callington’s town centre is a short walk away. A market town, Callington’s history is rooted in local mining. Today it is well known for its spectacular MayFest festival and has good links to music and the arts, with an extensive mural trail around the town. It also celebrates the Honey Fair in the autumn, as well as the Kelliwik Golowi, the new local festival of light. There is a well regarded school/college and primary school, a doctor’s surgery, and a dentist. Convenient supermarkets are found in the town centre, and there is a Waitrose at nearby Saltash. Other amenities include a nursery, friendly local cafés and coffee shops, and several pubs.



The town of Launceston - once the ancient capital of Cornwall - is just a 21-minute drive from the house and is home to an arresting Norman castle. The nearby towns of Tavistock and Okehampton are within easy reach, with a wide range of independent shops and schools.



Around a 15-minute drive away, Coombeshead Farm in Lewannick has an exceptional farm-to-table restaurant and occasional bakery morning events. Similarly, Hotel Endsleigh, part of the Polizzi Collection, is a delightful spot for lunch, followed by exploration of the Repton-designed grounds.



Close to the Tamar Valley and Dartmoor National Parks, the house is within reach of a near-endless array of walking trails. J.M.W. Turner visited the Tamar Valley in the early 1800s and today you can walk in his footsteps on the same paths. There are also National Trust sites nearby, including Antony, Cadsonbury and Cotehele. The coast can be reached in under 30 minutes by car.



Gunnislake station is the nearest and runs direct links to Plymouth. Liskeard station, around a 15-minute drive away, runs direct services to London Paddington and can also be reached by bus. Plymouth is around half an hour away by car, while Exeter can be reached in a little over an hour.



Council Tax Band: B