Cornwall's Houses and Gardens

The manor house had a long history before the Carew family arrived here in the late 15th century. The present house was built for Sir William Carew between 1711 and 1721 on a new site with an elaborate and formal walled garden. The formality was swept away on the advice of Humphrey Repton in the 19th century the porte-cochere was added to the front of the house and vistas were cut through the perimeter belt of trees, yew walks were added and extended.

During the 20th century the gardens reputation grew with the development of the garden and the introduction of a great variety of azaleas, rhododendrons and magnolias. The house was donated to the national trust in 1961 who have continued to develop the garden with sensitive modern sculptures. The original woodland at Antony has been separated and is managed by the Carew Pole Garden Trust.

The estate dates back to the 13th century but the main front of the present house was built in the 1780s. In the 19th century it was surrounded by beech and Monterey pine planted by Treseder’s nursery and the paths surfaced with pebbles from Loe Bar near Helston. Considerable development has taken place since the new owners from South Africa took over in 1999.

The planting in the walled garden has been extended with a new border between the swimming pool and lawn. Beyond the lower gate a vista opens up over the orchard to Lake Joy and the countryside in the distance. Another lake has been uncovered next to this and planted with ornamental grasses and South African plants.

Caerhays was owned by the Trevanion family from about 1379 and between 1805 and 1807 John Nash built the present castle which is described as a 'folly' for them but this led to the bankruptcy of the Trevanions.

It was bought by the Williams family in 1854 and remains in there custody today. J.C.Williams was probably the founder of the gardens great planting reputation with the discoveries of rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias and magnolias from planting expeditions he sponsored.

Seeds from other expeditions were planted in the grounds of the castle and flowered here for the first time giving rise to collections of hydrangeas, lithocarpus and nothofagus. Caerhays remains one of the most important planting gardens in Cornwall today.

Cotehele was once judged to be the most important Tudor House in Cornwall where remains of the lower wall and medieval dovecote are evident today. The house was remodeled in 1862 with the terraces laid out in beds and borders and filled with hardy flowers.

Since Cotehel has been in the care of the National Trust the gardens have been greatly developed, there are wooded areas with oak, chestnut and yew trees and the area was the centre of extensive fruit gardening.

China Clay was also mined in Cornwall and a disused pit has given rise to the Eden Project near St Austell home to exotic crops and plants housed in vast domes reflecting the bio-diversity of the planet. Massive Biomes or Greenhouses in a former china clay pit where you will find plants that reflect the diversity of the planet.

Glengurgan is one of the best valley gardens in Cornwall it was bought by Alfred Fox in 1820 who planted a great variety of trees and shrubs which became the foundation for this garden. The maze was begun in 1833 and is probably the best known feature of the garden.

Alfreds grandson George Fox planted many of the conifers and introduced several rhododendrons and his son Cuthbert and wife increased the range of plant species including magnolias, cornuses, camellias and hydrangeas. In 1962 Glendurgan was donated to the National Trust.