PLANS to create a museum dedicated to the life and work of a South East Cornwall social reformer have taken another step forward.

Emily Estate UK has been granted permission to cary out restoration and refurbishment at the historic house in St Ive where campaigner Emily Hobhouse spent her early years.

It was in 1852 that Emily’s father the Reverend Reginald Hobhouse (1818-1895) built his vicarage in St Ive.

Emily was born there in 1860 and went on to become a prominent campaigner for civil rights. She brought the horrific conditions in British concentration camps in South African during the 1899-1902 Boer War to public attention.

She is revered to this day in South Africa.

The vicarage, now known as The Chantry, has been bought by Emily Estate UK, which is based at Hadspen House near Castle Cary in Somerset, bought by the Hobhouse family in 1785.

The firm applied for listed building consent for external and internal works to house and stable yard buildings including the removal of modern features and the reinstatement of original materials and design.

It also applied for demolition of minor garden walls and a new wall associated with closing up the non-original vehicle entrance.

The plans have been supported by St Ive Parish Council and Historic England.