Home of historic dance keeps local link with sale
THE owner of one of Cornwall’s most historic homes, which plays host to the famous Flora Day Dance, has said that he refused to sell the property to anyone who was not local.
Michael Jay, owner of Lismore House, says he received plenty of interest and offers for the Helston property after it first went on the market in May, 2019.
But none were good enough as many of the potential buyers revealed they were wanting to buy in the town without even knowing what Flora Day was – a centuries-old annual spring tradition.
The 77-year-old, who is moving to South East Asia on completion of the sale next month, says he is delighted that the nine-bedroom home is now going to a local couple, Adam and Sarah Corbridge, who also own Wearnes Jewellers in Helston and Falmouth.
Mr Jay admitted that he could have sold the property far earlier, having rejected offers for more than two years so that it could remain in the hands of someone local who understood the importance of its Flora Day connections. Lismore plays an important part of the Flora Day celebrations, with all four dances entering the grounds throughout the annual big day in May.
“I was interested that local people, and hopefully people actually from Helston, would buy the property,” said Mr Jay, who has called Lismore House his home for the past 27 years.
“It’s quite famous. It’s a historic house in connection with Helston Flora Day, and that has now been established because the people who have bought Lismore are a local family.”
Speaking of other cases of homes being purchased and altered or, worse, demolished, he said: “Not this one. I wouldn’t let it go to people from outside.”
He said he had “lots” of interest and offers but always turned them down. “There were several parties that were very keen but they were from up the country and didn’t know anything about Helston Flora Day, so I wasn’t very keen. I was in no hurry to sell the house. It has taken two years, but that is my fault. I wanted to make sure whoever bought it was local,” he said.
Grade II listed Lismore House is synonymous with the town’s Flora Day celebrations, and went on the market hours after the 2019 event, the last Flora Day held in its traditional format due to the pandemic.
The grand residence stands in enviable gardens and grounds of some 2.6 acres. Ordinarily, each year, Lismore’s picturesque ponds provide the backdrop to traditional dances as crowds gather to watch.
The property went on the market with an £2 million asking price with Christophers estate agents, and was most recently listed for £1.5 million and was sold for an undisclosed sum.
Alan Christophers said, at the time the listing went up: “As a Helston estate agency, we feel extremely privileged to be invited to market Lismore, which has meant so much to generations of Helstonians through the integral part it plays in the Flora Day celebrations.”