This former manor house where refugee Austrians hid from the Nazis is an “unrivalled and unrepeatable” opportunity to restore and own a slice of history.

Trehane House, in Probus near Truro, dates back to Elizabethan times, but the current property was built between 1699 and 1703.

Made of red brick and Pentewan stone, the Queen Anne manor house was first occupied by John Williams of Carvean and Catherine Courtney of Trehane Vean, whose daughter inherited the estate and married the rector of St Erme, Reverend William Stackhouse.

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The property in its heyday. (Lillicrap Chilcott)

Their son, John Stackhouse, was a notable botanist of the era, who was known for building Acton Castle above Stackhouse Cove in Perranuthnoe, named for himself.

Years later, in 1830, another notable resident of Trehane House was John’s great-niece, Emily Stackhouse, who was a botanical artist, with works published in a series of books by the Society For Promoting Christian Knowledge.

In 1861, Trehane was inherited by Captain William Church Stackhouse Pinwill, who served in the army in Malaysia.

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The structure of the house remains, but there is no roof. (Lillicrap Chilcott)

Before the second world war, Trehane was requisitioned by the government, who used the estate to house Jewish Austrians who were fleeing the Nazis.

The Austrians stayed in temporary huts in the grounds, one of which has been restored by the current owners.

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The house sits in five acres of land. (Lillicrap Chilcott)

The estate was also used to accommodate US servicemen later on in the war as they trained for D-Day.

After the war was over, Trehane was bought by Major Anthony Deakin, who sought to renovate the property - but in September 1946, a plumber unknowingly set fire to the attic.

The entire roof and the floors were destroyed before the fire could be put out.

Planning consent has been granted for the restoration of the house, which sits in five acres of grounds.

The property is being sold by Lillicrap Chilcott for a guide price of £675,000.

The agent commented: “[This is] an exceptional five-acre site in a magical and private setting, formerly part of an historic country estate with the ruins of a Grade II Listed Queen Anne manor house and detailed planning consent for its reconstruction to create what would be one of Cornwall’s finest country homes.

“With profusely stocked gardens, woodland and long private access, enjoying panoramic views over miles of surrounding unspoilt countryside.”