Historic house still for sale as gardens listed

Secretary of State, Lisa Nandy, added the gardens at Larkbeare House to a list of sites with special historic interest but not the house

The future of a historic house in Exeter is still uncertain after its gardens were put on a 'special historic interest' list.

Conservation campaigners said they hoped Larkbeare House off Topsham Road would be listed after cabinet minister Lisa Nandy added the gardens to the register of parks and gardens of special historic interest in England.

Devon County Council, which owns the building, declared it "surplus to requirements" and listed it for sale in a bid to cut costs.

Chairman of Exeter Civic Society, Keith Lewis, said the society considered the house to be a "wonderful example" of historic houses that look across the Exe river.

'Surplus to requirements'

Mr Lewis said: "Although the Secretary of State does not consider the house of national significance, the society considers it to be a wonderful example of grand villas that dotted Topsham Road with views across the Exe valley towards the Haldon Hills."

A spokesman for the council said: "The property was declared surplus to requirements and its disposal was approved by cabinet.

"The listing of the grounds does not alter this decision."

Once used as lodgings for crown court judges, Larkbeare House is used as a register office for weddings.

The council said it would try to honour bookings already made by couples planning to get married there, the Local Democracy Reporting Service reported.