In 1878 it was the residence of Arthur Pendarves Vivian, the member of parliament for the constituency of West Cornwall, who carried out extensive alterations in that year. In 1882 it was bought by Sir Richard Trevithick Tangye, a Cornishman born in Illogan who became a mechanical engineer, and along with his brothers started an engineering firm in Birmingham.
The house was owned by Arthur Pendarves Vivian in 1878, who made significant alterations to it. In 1882, Sir Richard Trevithick Tangye, a Cornish engineer and businessman, purchased the property and started an engineering firm with his brothers in Birmingham.