THERE are hopes that a historical building in Tavistock, which has been unoccupied for several years, will be brought back to its former glory in the near future.

The large white building on Church Lane, next to St Eustachius’ Church, was designed by John Foulston as a residence in the early 1800s. It has had several uses in the past, including being used as the first ever telephone exchange in the town when telephones were first introduced to Tavistock, as a chartered surveyors and more recently as a café.

Having been unoccupied for a number of years, the owner of the building told the Times this week that an application for grant funding had been submitted and if successful, would be used to renovate the exterior of the building. The interior of the building also needs refurbishment.

The application has been made to the Tavistock Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI), which aims to provide funding to conserve and improve public open spaces and repair and improve civic buildings and commercial premises.

The owner of 1 Church Lane said: ‘An application has been made for some funding from the THI which will be used to bring the building back to its former glory.

‘If the grant is successful, it will be used to refurbish the exterior, then we could get an occupier who would hopefully bring job opportunities into the area and ensure the building remains in good condition.

‘It is one of the most attractive buildings in the town centre and so different from the other notable buildings with its regency appearance.’

The owner said they hoped to hear the result of the application ‘shortly’.