NEWS

The road to re-discovery is currently underway in the gardens of a relatively unknown Cornish manor house.

Following in the footsteps of the restoration of the Lost Gardens of Heligan, the renovation of Godolphin House and gardens near Helston, will present yet another unique opportunity to uncover and explore part of Cornwall’s past heritage.

In medieval times the house had a formal nine-square garden although the original gardens date back to 1480.
In 1766 the estate passed to the Duke of Leeds who covered six of the squares to form a paddock area and it is these squares, together with other parts of the grounds which go back as far as 1300, that will hopefully be unveiled for the first time in over 200 years.

The house and gardens are now owned by the Schofield family who face the challenge to revive the gardens and hopefully uncover the buried six squares. The Godolphin House project is also one of five pilot studies being carried out around the country by English Heritage to explore ways to protect gardens, landscapes and monuments for the future. Unlike almost every other garden restoration project, all work at Godolphin House and gardens will take place in full view of the public so visitors will be able to watch every phrase of the ongoing development which it is hoped will be completed over the next three years.

Although today’s granite-built Tudor and Stuart house is only part of the remains of a far larger building that existed in the mid-16th century, it has undergone many changes since then. In the mid-17th century, the building reached its heyday and by 1689 boasted around 100 rooms.

The Entrance Hall still retains its splendid 16th century chimneypiece but the finest decoration in the house can be found in the Dining Room. This has linen-fold panelling and carved beams dating from the early 16th century whilst on the wall is a painting of the 2nd Earl’s famous stallion ‘Godolphin Arabian’ by John Wooton and dated 1731. Godolphin House, gardens and marquee restaurant are open every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday until 30th September. Following in the footsteps of the restoration of the Lost Gardens of Heligan, the renovation of Godolphin House and gardens near Helston, will present yet another unique opportunity to uncover and explore part of Cornwall’s past heritage.

In medieval times the house had a formal nine-square garden although the original gardens date back to 1480. In 1766 the estate passed to the Duke of Leeds who covered six of the squares to form a paddock area and it is these squares, together with other parts of the grounds which go back as far as 1300, that will hopefully be unveiled for the first time in over 200 years.

The house and gardens are now owned by the Schofield family who face the challenge to revive the gardens and hopefully uncover the buried six squares. The Godolphin House project is also one of five pilot studies being carried out around the country by English Heritage to explore ways to protect gardens, landscapes and monuments for the future. Unlike almost every other garden restoration project, all work at Godolphin House and gardens will take place in full view of the public so visitors will be able to watch every phrase of the ongoing development which it is hoped will be completed over the next three years.

Although today’s granite-built Tudor and Stuart house is only part of the remains of a far larger building that existed in the mid-16th century, it has undergone many changes since then. In the mid-17th century, the building reached its heyday and by 1689 boasted around 100 rooms.

The Entrance Hall still retains its splendid 16th century chimneypiece but the finest decoration in the house can be found in the Dining Room. This has linen-fold panelling and carved beams dating from the early 16th century whilst on the wall is a painting of the 2nd Earl’s famous stallion ‘Godolphin Arabian’ by John Wooton and dated 1731. Godolphin House, gardens and marquee restaurant are open every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday until 30th September.