Visit this splendid late Victorian country house, which provides fascinating insight into upper-class life in the 19th century.
Lanhydrock is the former home of the affluent Robartes family. It was originally constructed in the 17th century. Explore the manor’s 49 rooms, ranging from opulent main rooms to basic maids' bedrooms, reflecting the distinction between Victorian England’s upper and lower classes. Save time to wander the woodlands and gardens surrounding the residence.
The home was extensively remodeled after a devastating fire in 1881, although its granite façade reflects the building’s original architecture. Admire the stunning plasterwork ceiling in the Long Gallery, which survived the fire. This ceiling depicts 24 scenes from the Old Testament. The Long Gallery contains a beautiful Steinway piano and a collection of rare books.
Look for portraits of the Robartes family members in various rooms throughout the house. You’ll find a 19th-century painting of the family’s four oldest children as you descend the teak staircase from the servants’ quarters. See chalk and charcoal children’s portraits in the boudoir.
Investigate the home’s small museum, which exhibits some of the family’s photographs and letters. Learn about the life of the family’s servants as you explore the kitchen, larders, cellars, bakehouse, servants' quarters and dairy. Notice the ovens and warming cupboards in the kitchen and dining areas, which were considered state-of-the-art when they were added after the fire.
Just behind the house is the 15th-century Church of St. Hydroc, where several members of the Robartes family are buried. Look for an ornate pre-Norman Celtic cross outside the church’s south porch.
Explore the grounds around the manor, where footpaths meander through 900 acres (360 hectares) of wooded parkland along the River Fowey. The garden itself blooms with an impressive display of rhododendrons, camellias, magnolias and azaleas. Sign up for one of the free guided tours of the gardens or rent a bicycle and ride along the estate’s extensive trails on your own. Check out the thatched cottage, where one of the family’s gardeners lived and died.
Lanhydrock is located 3 miles (5 kilometres) southeast of Bodmin. Use the free on-site parking. The house and gardens are open every day and there is an admission fee.
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