1-12 Penrose Terrace

Summary

1-12 Penrose Terrace is a good architectural set-piece to the north of Penzance town centre, constructed as the town’s population expanded from the early 19th century.

Reasons for Designation

1-12 Penrose Terrace, Penzance, Cornwall is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

Architectural interest:
* as an architectural set-piece of twelve identical houses, the rhythm of which is only broken by open-fronted porches on Doric columns;
* the houses retain a good proportion of their historic fabric;

Historic interest:
* as an example of the good quality housing being constructed in Penzance as its population expanded;

Group value:
* with the mid-C19 houses on Trewartha Terrace and the Church of St John (1880-1881) which were also constructed as a result of the growth of Penzance.

History

Penzance was first recorded in the early C14, and its coastal location resulted in the town being a substantial harbour port by the early C15, attached to an urban settlement. In 1663 Penzance became a coinage town for the expanding tin industry in the St Just area. The closure of Europe to travellers during the Napoleonic Wars established the emergence of Penzance as a tourist resort. By the end of C18 the town was an established resort, and suburbs of good-sized houses were developed into the C19.

One of the first rows of such houses to the north of the town was built at Penrose Terrace. This terrace of twelve double-fronted houses, set up and back from the street, was built in the early to mid-C19. The 1841 Tithe apportionment shows that the terrace was partially occupied, which may suggest that it had been recently-completed. The 1851 Census records other occupants including a retired silk merchant, an accountant and a customs officer, reflecting the high-status of the houses. Some of the houses had ancillary servants’ accommodation and coach-houses to the rear. Numbers 1 and 2 were annexed to the Cliff Hotel in the mid-C20 and then incorporated into an apartment conversion in the early C21.

Details

Terrace of 12 houses, constructed in the early to mid-C19.

MATERIALS: granite construction, some with stucco render, with slate roofs.

PLAN: a long terrace orientated facing south.

EXTERIOR: early to mid-C19 stucco terrace of double-fronted houses with slate roofs, stepped uphill from the east. The front elevation to number 8 is pebble-dash, and that to numbers 9 and 10 are granite rubble. Each is of two storeys and three window bays. Most have sash windows with glazing bars, and open porches with Doric columns and entablatures, except to numbers 1, 2, 3 and 5. Numbers 1 and 2 are converted into an annexe of Cliff Hotel (being converted into residential apartments in February 2025). Number 11 has two late-C19 two-storey splayed bay windows. Some of the rear elevations are slate hung.

INTERIOR: the interiors of numbers 1-12 are understood to retain historic joinery including staircases with ramped handrails, window shutters, architraves, and doors, and other fittings including fire-surrounds.

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

69546

Legacy System:

LBS

Sources

Websites
Heritage Gateway: Cornwall and Scilly Historic Environment Record, accessed 17/02/2025 from https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=MCO63714&resourceID=1020

Other
Ordnance Survey, Cornwall (surveyed 1875, published 1876, reprinted 1891) (1:500 Town Plan)
1851 Tithe map and apportionment, Madron parish

End of official list entry

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