The Lanhydrock estate was bought in 1620 by Sir Richard Robartes, a Truro banker. In 1624 he was created a baron by James I and in 1630 he set about building the magnificent Tudor mansion. However, he did not live to see the completion of his work and the house was finished by his son in 1651.
In 1881 a disastrous fire destroyed nearly all the building. Only the north wing, the entrance porch and gatehouse remain from the original house. However, the owner, Lord Robartes, had the house rebuilt as a replica of what had been burned.
The same grey granite was used and the result is a pleasing symmetrical composition ranged round three sides of a courtyard. The tour of the house includes 49 rooms and reflects all aspects of Victorian life above and below stairs.
The kitchen, larders and dairy still contain the utensils and equipment needed to fed the great household and the cellars, bakehouse and servants' quarters are also on show.
In the family's apartments the Long Gallery in the original wing is most impressive. It has a superb plaster ceiling depicting scenes from the Old Testament and was created in the mid-17th century by local craftsmen.
The house is furnished mostly in Victorian style but also contains some 18th century furniture and tapestries. Lanhydrock House and its estate remained in the Robartes family until 1953 when it was given to the National Trust by the 7th Viscount Clifden.
Outside the original 17th century gatehouse is the main entrance to the house and Victorian gardens.
There are 22 acres of gardens containing herbaceous borders and formal parterres. The parterres have bronze urns brought from the Chateau de Bagatelle in Paris and taken to Lanhydrock when the the gardens were laid out in 1857.
The gardens still maintain the the 19th century plan. The wooded higher gardens contain rhododendrons, magnolias and camellias which blend in with the oak and beech woods. The estate extends to around 1,000 acres of woodland and meadows and has a network of footpaths.
2008 House: 15 Mar–30 Sep: 11:00–17:30 Tue-Sun, 1 Oct–2 Nov 11:00–17:00 Tue-Sun;Garden: All year 10:00–18:00 Mon-Sun.
Tel: 01208 265950 Lanhydrock House Website
