Penhallow Manor, Altarnun, Cornwall

This classically proportioned Grade II-listed Georgian house, a former rectory, unfolds with distinction and grace across its 4,940 sq ft plan. It sits ensconced by idyllic grounds of just under an acre, with outbuildings, a tapestry of mature trees, and views out towards the beautiful neighbouring church. With five bedrooms and a set of distinguished living spaces, the home is a versatile space that upholds its period integrity. The manor sits in the centre of Altarnun, a quiet village in Bodmin Moor, close to Launceston and a short drive from Cornwall's rugged Atlantic coast.



Setting the Scene



Altarnun is a storied village around seven miles from Launceston, Cornwall’s ancient capital. The village church, known as ‘the cathedral of the moor’, is one of Bodmin Moor’s most striking landmarks. It is dedicated to St Nonna, St David’s mother, and has a dramatic Gothic form, with a rare Norman font inside, along with intricate 15th-century carved woodwork and one of Cornwall’s finest medieval screens. By the church gate, an ancient Celtic cross remains.



Positioned next to the church, the house is similarly steeped in history: built as a rectory in the early 19th century, it has a charming stucco façade and low-pitched slate roof. It inspired Daphne Du Maurier's Jamaica Inn (1936), where it served as the Reverend Francis Davey’s home. Although it is filled with original features, from fireplaces and windows to cast-iron bathtubs, the house has also been thoroughly updated by the current owners, who have taken great pains to make it a home that embraces new and old in equal measure. It previously served as a hotel, and so has been finished with a luxurious feel and high-quality fittings and fixtures.



The Grand Tour



From the quiet country road in front, a gravel-laid driveway extends to the front of the house, providing plenty of space to park. Entry is via a slightly protruding porch dressed in stucco pilasters; from here, a delightful hallway with original floorboards unfolds, feeding through to a large central hall.



There are several sitting rooms on the ground floor, including a drawing room with sandy-coloured walls, dual-aspect shuttered sash windows, and a fireplace with a marble surround. A rich green has been applied to the walls in the separate morning room, which also has a marble-framed fireplace and a shuttered sash window. A dining room with a third fireplace sits between these spaces.



From the hall, a door opens to the kitchen. Beautifully fitted, it has hand-built solid wood cupboards topped with polished granite worktops. There is also a larder cupboard with drawers, an island with a Villeroy and Boch sink, a concealed Miele dishwasher and a separate fridge and freezer from Liebherr. Texture is brought by a textured stone wall, which extends around a sage-green Everhot range.



A door opens to the garden room, an atmospheric space with soft blue walls and double doors to the garden. The ground-floor plan is completed by a large boot room, accessed via the kitchen or the entrance hall, a study with an adjacent archive room, a WC and a laundry room. There are also multiple points of passage between inside and out.



An elegant staircase - painted white and with a timber handrail - sweeps up to the generous first-floor landing. Five bedrooms (all with en suites, three also with dressing rooms) extend from here, all with a unique character created by a fine selection of paint colours, at once refreshingly contemporary and in keeping with the home’s Georgian appeal. Original features include cast-iron fireplaces and towering sash windows that frame views across the garden.



The separate stone-built coachhouse is topped with a slate roof and has three bedrooms, a sitting room and a spacious kitchen; there is also a single-car garage.



An annexe is currently used as storage, but could be adapted with the necessary permissions in place. Both the annexe and the coachouse are separately Grade II listed.



The Great Outdoors



Gardens of around 0.75 acres surround Penhallow Manor, with large lawns for playing and sequestered spots for reading. There is a terraced area outside the garden room for outside dining. Views extend across the neighbouring churchyard, the handsome spire rising above the tree canopies.



Along with several species of mature trees (including a stately coastal redwood) there are also azaleas, rhododendrons and camellias. The garden’s upper level is also home to a kitchen garden.



Out and About



Altarnun is a charming Cornish countryside spot with a coffee shop, a village hall and a primary school. It lies a short drive from Launceston - once the ancient capital of Cornwall - which offers essential amenities, several supermarkets and a Norman castle. The nearby towns of Tavistock and Okehampton are within easy reach, with a wide range of independent shops and well-regarded schools.



10 minutes' drive away, Coombeshead Farm in Lewannick has an award-winning, farm-to-table restaurant and occasional bakery morning events. Similarly, Hotel Endsleigh, part of the Pollizzi Collection, is a delightful spot for lunch, followed by exploration of the Repton-designed grounds. Even closer to home are Tre, Pol and Pen farm shop and restaurant, a favourite among locals.



On the northern periphery of Bodmin Moor, the house is close to some excellent walks, hikes and cycles. Dartmoor National Park is also easily reached by car, as is Cornwall’s dramatic Atlantic coast, a myth-laden landscape with Arthurian associations.



Aside from the village primary school, education options include Launceston College, Callington Community College and Liskeard School and Community College. 17 miles away, Bodmin Parkway station provides services to Penzance, Plymouth, Exeter, and London Paddington.



Council Tax Band: G