Helston inventor Henry Trengrouse house for sale in Helston

The three to four-bedroom property in Meneage Street has vacant possession with no onward chain, and is being marketed with a guide price of £420,000.

Henry Trengrouse was born in Helston in 1772 and after attending Helston Grammar School he became a cabinet maker.

It was witnessing the wreck of HMS Anson, off the coast of Loe Bar in 1807, which set him on the path he would become famous for.

A portrait of Henry Trengrouse (Image: Public Domain)

Having seen the terrible loss of life that occurred when the Royal Navy gun frigate sank, with around 100 people drowned, Trengrouse developed the ‘Rocket’ – a line fired from shore a vessel in difficulty at sea, which was an early form of the Breeches buoy.

What he had invented went on to become the basis of equipment saving thousands of lives since, but sadly he is believed to have died penniless, in 1854.

The front of the property with courtyard garden (Image: Mather Partnership/Zoopla)

However, there is now a memorial stone for him outside the entrance of St Michael’s Church and his name has been immortalised with the naming of a road after him in the town, Trengrouse Way.

In 1841, almost destitute, Henry had gone to live in Meneage Street with his wife and daughter.

It is this property that is now up for sale, marketed by the Mather Partnership. It has since become a Grade II listed property, with many of its original features well-preserved, including gothic arch windows and flagstone flooring.

Original flagstone flooring in the hallway (Image: Mather Partnership/Zoopla)

Downstairs is a large living room, two reception rooms and a breakfast room, along with a kitchen facing the garden, plus toilet and shower room.

Upstairs, there are three double bedrooms, with the master having a dressing room attached, along with a second office and a large family bathroom.

The garden includes a traditionally styled brick based greenhouse, with gothic arch windows to the back of the house (Image: Mather Partnership/Zoopla)

Unusually for its town centre location, the property not only has a courtyard garden to the front but also mature rear gardens, planted with a variety of shrubs and trees by the previous owner, which are described as “a haven of peace and tranquillity.”

There is also a large area where chickens were previously kept and a traditionally styled brick based greenhouse, plus workshop.

A beautiful tiled fireplace (Image: Mather Partnership/Zoopla)

The house has its own private parking space located nearby.

Full property details can be found via the Mather Partnership website and Zoopla. 

Unusual arched cupboard areas in one of the rooms (Image: Mather Partnership/Zoopla)

The kitchen facing the garden (Image: Mather Partnership/Zoopla)

A large living room (Image: Mather Partnership/Zoopla)