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]]>On the eastern side of Godolphin Hill, sits the ancient Godolphin estate and gardens.
The first house was built here in the 13th century for Alexander Godolghan, a man made rich through land and mine ownership. This was then demolished in 1475 by then owner John Godolphin and a new house was erected; this had two courtyards and part of this build included the now mostly gone Great Hall. The entrance for this would have been on the western side of the house.
In 1537 under Sir William Godolphin building works continued, with the main entrance being moved onto the northern side of the house, a feature that can still be seen from one of the courtyards. Two new towers were erected with a gatehouse in between. Over the years, more was added bit by bit to the estate until 1785 when it passed to Thomas Osborne, the 4th Duke of Leeds, who married into the family. Running costs were high and significant parts of the house, including the Great Hall and Range, were demolished and the stone repurposed while parcels of land were sold off.
The family seldom visited the estate, but kept it as it featured promising mining land, and in the meantime it was used primarily by farming tenants. In May 1909 the 10th Duke of Leeds came to visit, making this only the second time a member of the family had stopped here since their ownership. The tenants pooled their money to buy a Silver Greyhound to present to him, however when the main Duke of Leeds seat Hornby Castle was sold to help pay off substantial debts, it went missing and was never seen again.
The substantial north range with its imposing columns.
In 1920 the estate was put up for sale, and the current tenant Mr Treloar, a mining engineer, bought it. However, he died two years later and his wife put it all up for sale the following year. A family of farmers named Penna, who then sold it again in 1935.
The Undercroft and Kings Room.
Again, this ownership didn’t last long and by 1937 it was now in the hands of Sydney Schofield. It was under his care that significant restoration began on the house and gardens, with the family working hard for 70 years. Following his death, his widow Mary (nee Lanyon), sold the estate to the National Trust in 1999, and then in 2007 at age 91 sold the house and garden as well.
The Kings Garden with the former house door blocked out on the right.
The house and gardens are owned by the National Trust and require a ticket to enter.
There is a small paid car park near the house.
National Trust (2018) ‘Signs at Godolphin’.
National Trust (2020) A special visit to Godolphin. Available at: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/godolphin/features/a-special-visit-to-godolphin (Accessed: 8 July 2020).
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]]>At the end of last year Scott and I headed down the narrow country lanes to Trerice House, a National Trust location on the outskirts of Newquay. Although it’s one of the smaller NT outfits, its still definitely worth the visit.
As we went at the end of the year, there wasn’t much in the way of flowers that we normally associate with NT gardens, but with Trerice you get the added bonus of their beautiful apple orchards which were in full swing.
Not much is known about Trerice’s history or the family that lived here. Through marriage the land was inherited by the Arundell family of St Columb Minor in the 1570’s, with John Arundell V having the original much smaller house built between 1572-3. This house changed a lot over its years, with extensions being added on until you’re left with the finished product today; a dutch style Elizabethan house which was primarily built from St Columb elvan and granite.
The last Arundell died in 1768 and the land went to the Acland family who’s primary residence was in Devon so didn’t visit all that often. Little of significance happened until WWII, when the house and grounds became a base for the home guard, namely the 11th Cornwall Batallion. They were nicknamed the ‘Choughs’ due to the birds gallantry and furtiveness, hence the number of chough images seen throughout the house.
The National Trust bought the house from Somerset de Chair in 1953 for £12,000 and after undergoing significant renovations was opened to the public.
We started off our little self guided tour on the south-east side of the house, in the Elizabethan knot garden and orchard just past the visits entrance. The paths here lead up to the front of the house and the front court and we took the short flight of steps onto the Kayling lawn. Kayling was the Cornish name for skittles and Trerice holds a unique set of 16th century oak pins (although these aren’t the ones you can play on the green!). There are several sets of games on the green that anyone can play.
After Scott had had a couple of games of skittles we pottered across the grass towards the parade ground and down to the potager garden.
The potager garden was a beautiful little allotment with a variety of flowers and vegetables growing.
We then retraced our steps to the entrance to the house and began a tour of the inside. The tour begins in the Great Hall; this dates from the original construction of the house and its size and grandeur would have reflected the wealth of the owners. It was used to host all manner of events and banquets, but also would have served as a sleeping space for servants.
The stunning windows are made up of 576 panels and is one of a kind, the largest and oldest of its type in Cornwall. The glass for this was brought into the country in the 16th century, a true show of wealth at this time. Many of the panels have been changed over its life, with some dating from each century since it was first installed. The large wood table in the centre dates from the 19th century and was made from wood from the Acland’s Holnicotes Estate in Somerset.
The rest of the tour takes you through a large living room, which had multiple functions from a food store room to a room for servants. Other sections of the house include the master bedroom, a long hall filled with paintings and artefacts and a more modern bar. Each room features information cards about the rooms history and key parts.
The tour ends in at the gift shop and after a quick browse headed straight across to the converted barn for lunch.
Access is available to anyone who pays the entrance fee. Some sections of the house feature steep steps which may not be accessible for those with mobility issues.
Wonderful hot and cold meals can be bought from the Barn cafe, with the menu changing from time to time.
Parking is free, and there are disable spots closer to the entrance. There are even charging points for electric cars.
Gamble, B. (2014) Cornwall’s Great Houses and Gardens. Penzance: Alison Hodge Publishers.
National Trust (2020) The history of Trerice. Available at: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/trerice/features/the-history-of-trerice (Accessed: 19 April 2020).
National Trust (no date) Trerice House Information Cards.
Parkes, C. (2005) Trerice, Newlyn East: Cornwall Archaeological assessment. Available at: http://map.cornwall.gov.uk/reports_event_record/2005/2005R042.pdf.
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]]>The ‘Lost’ Gardens of Heligan were once genuinely lost to time, with the ancient gardens overgrown and forgotten until a group of individuals undertook one of the largest restorations in Europe. Originally home to the Tremayne family for 400 years, by the twentieth century its gardens were left abandoned to the environment.
Lost Valley sculpture: Growth & Decay.
Heligan’s life started at some point in the 1200’s, when the first manor house was built on the land. Little information exists between then and 1569 when the land was bought by Sampson Tremayne of St Ewe, starting the long succession of the Tremayne family.
There are over 70 different camellias and 350 rhododendrons in the gardens.
In 1603 saw another house built, until 1692 when the current one was erected in the same spot. This house was constructed from bricks made on the estate for Sir John Tremayne, who handed the estate down to Rev Henry Hawkins Tremayne. Under his ownership new domestic wings were added to the house.
In 1829 John Hearle Tremayne further remodelled the house and estate, giving it a more Georgia look and adding ornamental gardens. Through his marriage to Caroline Lemon, daughter of Sir William Lemon of Carclew, he was able to secure rare and exotic plants from her plant hunter brother. 1851 saw the famous Hooker rhododendrons were planted on the grounds.
The gardens were continuously expanded over the next sixty years, with the addition of more exotic plants and development of the Japanese Gardens (now the Jungle section).
The reign of the Tremayne family ground to a holt with the start of WWI; the majority of the estate staff went off to war and the house was later used as a convalescent home. Between the two wards, the land was rented out, but during WWII it was utilised by the American forces. It continued to be rented afterwards, with the garden falling into disrepair. In 1973-4 the house was separated into appartments.
Some of the beautiful rare breed animals living on the farm.
1990 was the kick off for the great garden restoration. Led by Tim Smit and John Willis, over the next thirty years the garden was systematically cleared and pieced back together; starting with the Melon Yard and East and West Rides, the garden was crafted into the masterpiece it is today. In 1992 it was opened to the public for the first time, with work continuing all the time.
Access is available to the public although check their website for up to date opening times and prices. Dogs are welcome in all areas of the gardens on leads.
There is a restaurant at the entrance to the gardens which serves the most wonderful food, with a smaller cafe near the farm with snacks and coffee.
There is substantial free parking available on site.
Gamble, B. (2014) Cornwall’s Great Houses and Gardens. Penzance: Alison Hodge Publishers.
Lost Gardens of Heligan (2020) Timeline. Available at: https://www.heligan.com/the-story/timeline (Accessed: 29 March 2020).
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]]>Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens are located in a small wooded valley on the outskirts of Penzance, overlooking the wonderful Mount’s Bay. Scattered amongst the trees and carefully cultivated plants are dozens of contemporary sculptures, designed to be intricately woven into the landscape around them.
The land that the gardens sits on was once part of the estate owned by the St Michael’s Mount monks. This was until 1295 when it was bought by a farmer, Michael De Tremenheere, who’s family cared for the land for the next 600 years. During the 15th century, land in the valley was partly used as a vineyard, along with areas used to grow strawberries.
It wasn’t until 1890, when the then owner Seymour Tremenheere, began planting different species of trees. This included holly, sweet chestnut, beech and oaks. Along with his planting, a carriageway was also built up the valley.
After the Tremenheere’s left the land, the Pearce family worked the land until 1997 when the main section of the valley was bought by Dr Neil Armstrong. Prior to his ownership, large sections had become unkept, with rhododendrons taking over some sections and brambles others.
Sculptures
Dotted throughout the valley are nineteen unique sculptures made by over twenty artists. These permanent works vary greatly, some blending effortlessly with the surrounding plant life, while others scream colour amongst the foliage.
Plants
The first planting in ernest was to add in wind shelter breaks, primarily using Pinus radiata, Quercus ilex and sundry native trees. Some of the earlier specimens have reached a height of 30 feet or more, having become completely established. The garden itself was mostly dictated by its unique landscaping, with the natural gradient of the hill requiring long sloping paths, allowing for sections to be compartmentalised.
The shape of the valley provides a microclimate that allows for all kinds of exotic plants to flourish, and while there is a real range of different trees, bushes and flowers, they all come together to produce a wonderful garden.
These private gardens are open from February through to the winter (check the actual dates on their website) and offer free parking and have a lovely little cafe.
Due to the nature of the valley, the majority of the paths are unsuitable for wheelchairs, mobility scooters or prams.
Dogs are welcome on leads.
Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens (2020). Available at: https://www.tremenheere.co.uk/ (Accessed: 10 February 2020).
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]]>A picturesque castle on an island in the middle of a bay? What more could you want?
St Michael’s Mount with its hilltop castle and surrounding gardens is delicately perched in the bay parallel with the village of Marazion, near Penzance.
The castle and the island around it has existed in many forms, originating as a priory for a group of monks who came over from Mont St Michel. This is a similar affair, with a monastery built on an island off the coast of Normandy, France. These fellows came over in the early 12th century and built a church in 1135. Said church still exists today, although I image it looks rather different from the original as it was largely rebuilt in the 14th century and further renovations have occurred since then.
From the time of the monks, the island with its remarkable castle has changed hands several times, but now belongs to the St Aubyn family who took over the property in 1659.
Around 30 people currently live on the island, with the majority of their lives revolving around the weather and tides.
The harbour has been in use for maybe over 2000 years, primarily being used for trade and fishing. The pier originally dates from the 15th century, being enlarged in 1823. The harbour remains full of boats, and there’s even an amphibious vehicle tucked around the corner.
The walk up from the little village takes you through some of the gardens on the south side of the island and up the old cobbled path to the castles front door.
Legend has it that at one point a giant named Cormoran lived on the island, stealing livestock from the local farmers to eat. He continued to terrorise the locals, until a young lad named Jack decided to dig a big pit, lure the giant down the hill until he fell in it. Jack then filled in the pit with Cormoran at the bottom. The giants heart can still be found amongst the cobbles of the path.
The ‘pit’, or well, that exists today was really the source of water for the islanders until about 100 years ago.
The walk up to the castle offers some pretty spectacular views of the bay, Marazion and down to Penzance.
There is an underground railway that comes up to the castle from the harbour; built around 1900 by local miners, this is still used to transport goods. The gun batteries along the rim of the mount was installed in the 18th century.
The garden on the Mount is pretty spectacular and were actually designed to be viewed from above as well as on ground level. It’s maintained by a team of four gardeners, who do an amazing job at keeping the garden is good condition. This even involves some abseiling down from the castle battlements to the higher garden tiers. During WWII a number of pillboxes were built on the Mount to serve as look out posts in case of German invasion.
The inside of the house is as beautifully decorated as is expected. The crest of the St Aubyn family can be found on the wall on entry to the property and there are wonderful views of the church from all sides, complete with extravagant stained glass windows. Other rooms include St John’s room, the library, smoking room, blue drawing room, map room, garrison room, museum room and the east wing were the family still live.
The Mount is now a National Trust property, so while it is free to access the main village, if you want to go up and into the castle and/or gardens it’ll cost you (unless you’re a member)
Accessing the island itself is either via the uneven cobbled causeway that becomes visible at low time, or by taking the seasonal boats across (for a cost). Please check the tide times prior to visiting.
There is substantial parking in Marazion village run by St Aubyn Estates and is charged on entry.
There is a small cafe that serves a limited menu on the east side of the island and a larger cafe (the Sail Loft) on the western side that has a more extended menu.
National Trust (no date) The Castle on St Michael’s Mount. Available at: https://www.stmichaelsmount.co.uk/explore-the-mount/castle (Accessed: 10 December 2017).
St Michael’s Mount (no date). Available at: http://www.cornwall-online.co.uk/heritage-trail/heritage-national-trust/stmichaelsmount/Welcome.asp (Accessed: 10 December 2017).
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]]>The post Lanhydrock House & Gardens appeared first on Explore Cornwall.
]]>Smuggled away in the Fowey Valley near Cardinham is the Grade I listed house of Lanhydrock. Surrounded by over 800 acres of green land, this is a beautiful mix of architecture, gardens and woodland walks.
The name Lanhydrock was first used in 1201, but the area that the estate currently sits on was once a monastic farming community that was part of the Bodmin Priory in the 15th century. When the monasteries were dissolved in 1543 the land went to the local Glynn family and then to the Lyttelton family. Between 1577 and 1620, the estate was given to Thomas Trenance through marriage, but was sold to Richard Robartes of Truro in 1620, starting the Robartes legacy in this area.
Following Richard’s death, his son John took over in 1634 and attempted to build the grandest mansion in Cornwall, with formal gardens, a sporting park as well as developing the rich agricultural and mineral parts of the estate. The gatehouse with its wonderful octagonal walls was built in 1651.
After John died, the estate passed onto several different family members, however as they often had land and estates in other parts of the country, Lanhydrock was left neglected. It wasn’t until 1758 when George Hunt inherited the estate from his mother when more work occurred. He removed some of the east wing and added decorations, furniture and carpets; however he also accumulated several debts.
His successor was Anna Maria Hunt (later Agar from 1804), who along with the land and house, also inherited this debt. With help from the steward William Jenkin, she was able to restore the fortunes of this grand estate.
Her second child Thomas James Agar-Robartes had much of the parkland remodelled during his time in charge, adding new formal gardens and the ornamental drive that still exists today.
In 1881, a large fire started in the house, destroying a great deal of it and leaving only the north wing standing. Local architect Richard Coad was commissioned to reburbish the house, creating a mix of Jacobean and Victorian design. The impact of this fire was great and both Lord and Lady Robartes died in the following years. Their eldest son, Tommy Agar-Robartes took over the estate, but disaster struct again with the outbreak of WWI. During this time, mining in Cornwall was at breaking point, and Tommy was killed during the war.
Tommy’s younger brother Gerald inherited the estate next, but the family never really recovered and he handed it over to the National Trust in 1953.
Lanhydrock estate has quite a large garden, made up of smaller gardens dotted around the house. The higher garden behind the house and church was planted just before WWI, as was the southern half of the circular flower patch (the northern semi-circle was planted by the National Trust in 1972).
The formal gardens to the front of the house are surrounded by a mid-Victorian wall and also include 29 flat topped Irish yews.
The church that sits gracefully behind the house is dedicated to St Hydroc and is still used as a functioning chapel, with services on Sundays. Built in the 15th century, this church was often neglected and renovated alongside the main house.
The Robartes family crypt is still in situ under the pews on the southern side of the church.
The rather wonky cross that sits inline with the front entrance of the church is dated from the 9-11th century.
The estate is currently under the care of the National Trust and is open daily. Tours of the house give a wonderful view of both of the extensive ‘below stairs’ rooms and its many kitchens and the luxury ‘upstairs’ rooms where the family would have lived.
Alongside the house and gardens is a vast estate of woodland and field walks that is well worth exploring. Near the carpark they offer bike rentals to make use of their cycle trails.
There is a very large carpark on the north side of the estate that is well signposted from the A30 Bodmin/Cardinham junction. This is also owned by the National Trust so has the usual parking fees.
Postcode: PL30 4AB
OS Map: SX 087 642
There is a cafe near the carpark, with another cafe and restaurant at the house which offer different menus.
There are toilets at the house, including adapted ones.
Dogs are allowed to roam the grounds if on a lead, but only service dogs can enter the formal gardens.
There is wheelchair access to the house, but some rooms may not be available due to steps.
The Trust operates a shuttle service from the carpark to the house.
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lanhydrock
England, M., Hingston, R., Holden, P., Knight, S., Taylor, A. and Todd, D. (2018) Lanhydrock Dictionary of Biography. Available at: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fbSO8fi7HM9JqKwaZnK9dhEw_eURlO2b/view (Accessed: 24 October 2019).
Gamble, B. (2014) Cornwall’s Great Houses and Gardens. Penzance: Alison Hodge Publishers.
Historic England (2019) LANHYDROCK, Cardinham. Available at: https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1000449 (Accessed: 24 October 2019).
Thomas, N. (1994) Lanhydrock: An Archaeological Assessment. Available at: http://map.cornwall.gov.uk/reports_event_record/1994/1994R023.pdf (Accessed: 24 October 2019).
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