AN HISTORICAL listed building in Callington is set to be sold on the open market after a lack of interest was shown in someone taking it over.

The former parish vestry and town jail, known as ‘The Clink’, is owned by Cornwall Council which is now selling it off after no interested parties have come forward with ideas for a long-term viable use.

The listed building near St Mary’s Church was built in 1851, when Callington had a population of 2,138. It included two lock-ups at ground floor level, where the constable would detain drunks and petty criminals awaiting the visiting magistrate. The upper floor was used as a vestry room where officers and parish overseers presided over the payment of poor relief to the disadvantaged in the parish.

The former Caradon District Council renovated the building several years ago and it has since been used as office and storage space. However, there has been a lack of demand for the property and after exploring options with a range of potential users with no outcome, the council has decided to sell it on the open market.

The county council offered it first to Callington Town Council before deciding to put it up for sale. However, the town council decided it would not take on the building.

Town clerk Helen Dowdall said: ‘The Old Clink has not been used for a long time. Cornwall Council asked us if we wanted it but we have taken the decision not to take it on because we are mindful of the level of maintenance it will require over the long term and while it has great cultural value, it has limited use for us and would be costly to upkeep.’

Town councillor Jeremy Gist reiterated the town council’s view. He said: ‘It’s a very old building. There were lots of myths and stories relating to the building about underground tunnels linking the Clink with other buildings in the town, but these were never found. It has had various uses over the years.

‘The town council has looked at it in detail and we can’t really find a use for it. It would make a nice small office for someone or a tourist information centre but the problem is funding it.

‘In some ways it is a shame it is going to be sold because it is a historically interesting building but we as a council have talked about it at length and the town council just didn’t feel like we could commit ratepayers’ money to it.’

A spokesperson for Cornwall Council said: ‘The Clink in Callington was refurbished by Caradon District Council and has previously been let as office space but has been empty for some time now. It is a small, two-storey building with a small kitchen and toilet downstairs and single room upstairs, ideal for use as an office or consulting use subject to planning consent.

‘We have been exploring options with a wide range of potential users for some time now and in the absence of a long-term viable use, we are planning to sell the property.’

Cornwall Council said The Clink was due to be put on the market in the first week of November.