Lanhydrock House

Lanhydrock is unquestionably one of the most impressive (and popular) historic houses in Cornwall. Built of local grey slate and granite around an inner courtyard, the house dates to 1640, though most of the current building was the result of rebuilding after a fire in 1881. Survivors from the earlier house are the impressive gatehouse, the 2-story porch, and north range, with a 116 foot long gallery.

Within the gallery is a superb 17th century plasterwork ceiling, illustrating scenes from the Old Testament mixed with depictions of unusual beasts.

A stately avenue of beech and sycamore leads from the gatehouse to the nearby bridge across the Fowey.

Lanhydrock was the property of the Robartes family from 1620 to 1969, when the estate passed to the National Trust. The house is huge, and fully 50 rooms are open to visitors. The Trust has recreated the atmosphere of an Edwardian country house at Lanhydrock, and the restored kitchen and servant's quarters make a distinctive contrast with the glittering family rooms. A further contrast is provided by the children's nursery rooms.

THE GARDEN
Lanhydrock is surrounded by 900 acres of parkland and woods, allowing enjoyable walks on a network of footpaths. Closer to the house you find an mix of formal Victorian parterres and a lovely slope of magnolias, rhododendrons, and camelias leading to the verge of the woodland.