A LANDMARK building in Darlington is for up sale for the first time in its 160-year history.

St Clare's Abbey, on Carmel North Road, is on the market for £1.5 million with planning permission in place for a nursing home within its extensive grounds.

The Grade II listed building is also well suited to residential conversion as its design was based on cloistered quadrangles and this original layout still exists, offering potential for small communal gardens as part of any development.

The Specialist Markets team at CBRE in Leeds is overseeing the sale of the historic building, and the company’s Sam Frankland said: “St Clare's Abbey is a unique instruction, unlikely to be repeated in my career.

“It is a delight to walk around this property and the potential is self-evident.

“With careful consideration for the history and architecture of this building, I believe a developer can create an outstanding development and secure the future of the abbey for another 150 years.”

St Clare’s was built in 1856-7 and designed by Joseph and Charles Hansom in the Victorian Gothic Revival style they were famous for.

Joseph Hansom was a York born-architect of significant reputation in the middle 18th century.

Further examples of his work include Arundel Cathedral in West Sussex and Birmingham Town Hall, although he is probably most famous for inventing the horse drawn carriages known as Hansom Cabs.

During its history, part of the abbey was used for a girl’s boarding school which closed in 1887.

Since then, the building has remained largely unaltered and in 2009, it was listed Grade II along with the exceptionally preserved Chapel.

The abbey is constructed of red brick under multi-pitched slate roofs extending in parts to three floors.

The main building is set within grounds extending to six acres, with a brick wall surrounding the boundary on three sides.

Internally the building retains many original features.

The building, which is situated in Darlington’s West End, is offered for sale on a freehold basis with vacant possession, with offers in excess of £1.5 million considered.