Lanhydrock

Lanhydrock is a large country mansion near Bodmin in Cornwall, England, in the United Kingdom. It is situated in extensive grounds (360 hectares or 890 acres) above the River Fowey and is today managed by the National Trust, in whose ownership it has been since 1953.

Much of the present house dates back to Victorian times but some sections are more than 200 years older, dating from about 1620.

History

The estate belonged to the Augustinian priory of St Petroc at Bodmin but the Dissolution of the Monasteries during the 1530s saw it pass into private hands. In 1620 wealthy merchant Sir Richard Robartes acquired the estate and began building Lanhydrock House, designed to a four-sided layout around a central courtyard and constructed of grey granite. Robartes died in 1624 but work on the building was continued by his son John Robartes, 1st Earl of Radnor, a notable public figure who served as Lord Privy Seal and Lord President of the Council.

During the 18th century the east wing of the house was demolished leaving the U-shaped plan seen today. In 1881 a major fire destroyed the south wing and caused extensive damage to the central section. Of the main house only the north wing, with its 29 m Long Gallery, and the front porch building survived intact, though the original gatehouse also dates back to the mid 17th century.

Most of the current building, therefore, dates from late Victorian times. The second Lord Robartes (later the 6th Viscount Clifden) rebuilt the house to meet the needs of his large family, appointing local architect Richard Coad to design and supervise most of the work. Coad had previously (1857) worked as assistant to George Gilbert Scott on earlier work at Lanhydrock.In 1953 the house and approximately 160 hectares (400 acres) of parkland were given to the National Trust by the 7th Viscount Clifden. The public tour is one of the longest of any National Trust house and takes in the service rooms, nurseries and some servants' bedrooms, as well as the main reception rooms and family bedrooms. In 2004 it was one of the Trust's 10 most visited paid-entry properties, with over 200,000 visitors.

In 1872 Lord Robartes MP of Lanhydrock, Bodmin, was listed in the top ten land holdings in Cornwall with an estate of convert|22234|acre|km2 or 2.93% of Cornwall. [ [http://www.who-owns-britain.com/ Who Owns Britain - by Kevin Cahill (author)] ]

Lanhydrock was the main setting for a 1996 film version of "Twelfth Night" directed by Trevor Nunn, and starring Helena Bonham Carter as Olivia.

Parish Church

The house is situated next to a small church, Lanhydrock Parish Church (dedicated to St Hydrock). In parts this dates back to the late 15th century. Lanhydrock has an attractive garden with formal areas around the house. The hill behind is planted with a fine selection of shrubs and trees.

References

External links

* [http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-lanhydrock.htm Lanhydrock information at the National Trust]
* [http://www.westcountryviews.co.uk/houses/lanhydrock/lanhydrock.htm 25 photographs of Lanhydrock at westcountryviews.co.uk]
*IoE|67548