Perched above the jagged cliffs of the north Cornwall coast, the manor of Trevalga is dramatic, isolated and beautiful.
The site of six let farms and 17 further houses and cottages, it is a peaceful place, much loved by its current residents. But their utopia is under threat as the trustees of the land have put the estate up for sale with a guide price of £15.75m, triggering a dispute that some are calling the “Battle of Trevalga”.
The 485-hectare (1,200-acre) Trevalga estate was formerly owned by Gerald Curgenven, a former pupil of Marlborough College, who left the land in his will to the private school in 1959 with the instruction to “preserve it”.
The will’s trustees argue the will is protected by archaic legislation and they should be able to sell the land because the estate is no longer viable.
But residents, who fear eviction if the estate is sold, say the trust that protects their homes is charitable and therefore can continue indefinitely.
Serena Patrick, 38, who has been leading the campaign, told MailOnline: “It has not been developed, because of how Gerald Curgenven managed it in his lifetime. And after his death in 1959 it has been almost completely sheltered from the rise of modernism and development that has swept the entire country. It is a medieval parish that is largely unchanged – and a living piece of shared history.
“With no street lighting, you can stand in almost complete silence. It is unique. What he tried to do was ensure homes for local people in a beautiful and historic area. So what is the point in writing a will if when you die you can just say my wishes don’t matter? The trust created to preserve Trevalga has, in our view, now been twisted into a tool to exploit it for nothing more than monetary gain.”
Kizzy Lockyear, 44, who lives in Trevalga with her two sons and is a full-time carer, said: “I came here when I was six months old and have lived here ever since. It is all I’ve ever known. It is just a different way of life, a real community where everyone knows each other. It would be massive upheaval to leave – and I am fearful that might happen.
“The campaign is getting a lot of support but underlying all of that is the feeling you never know how it will turn out. Not knowing is causing a lot of fear and uncertainty.”
The estate is being marketed by the estate agent Savills, which describes the plot as offering “varied income streams and redevelopment opportunities”. Savills adds that new owners may want to pursue “redevelopment” and “further income generation”.
Patrick and fellow residents have called on the Charity Commission to look into the matter.
Trustees have argued they can now sell the land because the trust is subject to a “royal lives clause” tied to George V, who died in 1936. They suggest the life of the trust is tied to royal lives, and specifically to the death of George V’s last living descendant.
The campaign to save the village and its surroundings has won the support of the MP Scott Mann, who has appealed to the Charity Commission. He told MailOnline: “This is a one-of-a-kind community and it does deserve some protection. We have significant challenges with housing in Cornwall anyway with the buy-to-let market and Airbnbs and we’re doing everything we can.”
In a statement, the trustees told MailOnline: “The local MP Scott Mann has shown interest in Trevalga and facilitated a meeting between the trustees and representatives of the Charity Commission. Any further statement prior to that meeting would be inappropriate.”
