Details
ST NEWLYN EAST TRERICE
SW 85 NW
1/55
Trerice
28.2.1952
----- I
Large manor house. C15, C16 and 1570-73. St Columb elvan ashlar, with
granite dressings. Delabole slate roofs.
Plan: Building comprises a main south-east facing range of 'E'-plan
abutting a south-west range containing two earlier phases. Phase I,
possibly for Sir John Arundell I (d. 1471) now largely hypothetical,
comprised a tower house with low north-west block. This was extended early
C16, probably by 'Jack of Tilbury' by a 2-storey range to the south-east
of the of earlier tower, together now forming the bulky south wing. Sir
John IV High Sheriff of Cornwall and father-in-law to Sir Richard Carew,
historian, added the main 1570-3 range of 'E'-plan, comprising a central
porch to screens passage, hall to left, services to right, now shop, and
an open cloister walk at rear with projecting polygonal stair tower access
to a long gallery over. Also added is a large 2-storey bow window to the
parlour, later library, in the earlier south range. Rear remodelled in
C20. North-east end of main Elizabethan work was demolished c.1860 except
for lower 2 floors of outer walls, and rebuilt 1954. Main stair in left
front wing, leading to drawing room on first floor and the rear gallery.
Elevation. Two storeys and attics. Central 3-storey porch. Moulded square
outer doorcase containing 4-centred arch, leaves in spandrils. Label
moulding with square stops. First floor chamber has 4-light stone hollow
chamfered mullioned window, both lower openings with flush relieving
arches, key block to upper. Attic of 3-lights within shaped gable on lion
headed corbels and small crowning cornice with palmette crest. Great hall
window to left, of 8 lights and 2 transomes, central hollow-chamfered king
mullion. Many early plain quarries. Wing of equal projection to porch,
4-light windows to ground floor, 3-light above and 2-light to attic rooms
within identical shaped gables. Between wings and porch, central parapet
multiple convex shaped gables. Continuous string course over all first
floor windows, all above this level to right of porch demolished 1830 and
rebuilt 1952-4. Boarded framed doors on inner faces of wings. Renewed
lead rain-water goods. Attached on left wing, a wider two-storey parlour
wing with parallel ridge, of early C17. South front of this wing has been
altered to present irregular fenestration by inclusion of 16 and 24-paned
sashes, but original half-round 2-storey bay remains, built on battered
base and with C20 garden entrance on first floor, set back above string to
8-light transomed first floor window and moulded eaves. Roof hipped to
ball finial. Rear section of added south wing of killas rubble, and
single storey outbuilding on ground floor at right angles. Rear elevation
remodelledy C20. Ground floor has central entrance to cross passage within
segmental chamfered opening and inner door with wave moulding. Close
spaced chamfered arched openings, originally open, now with sash
windows, 3- and 4-light to ground floor. Five large hipped dormers with
leaded timber casement windows. Stair tower on right, with arch to added
wing, which retains one 6xoffset buttress. A 3-bay wing is added to the
rear gable of the C17 wing. probably later C17. Stone mullioned windows
and lean-to for part of north side. The shaped gables and bow window are
remarkably precocious features for 1570-3 and may be alterations by
Richard Arundell. c.1640's.
Interior: Great hall, rising through 2 floors, has elvan paviors.
Walls plastered and lined as ashlar. Stone Tudor fireplace with
triangular blind spandrels. Imposing plaster overmantel dated 1572.
Strapwork panel and end supporters in form of male and female herms.
Plaster frieze with running scroll, and small arcade on square piers over
passage screen wall. Fine plaster ceiling with two major pendants and
scrolled ribs with fleur enrichments and minor pendants and incorporates
initials of Sir John, his sister Margaret, and wife Katherine. Library,
lower by 3 steps, opens off upper (south) end of hall. Central bow window.
Simple cornice. Fireplace with marble slips and eared surround in c.1720
style, probably reproduction. In left wing, staircase, C19, with turned
balusters widely spaced. Ribbed plaster ceiling. On first floor drawing
room (great chamber) has impressive segmental plaster vault, ribbed, with
6 pendants. Bow window, also with plaster ceiling and quarter-columns at
arrises of bay. Fireplace of elvan, 4-centred with blind spandrels.
Plaster overmantel with Arundell arms flanked by male and female warriors.
frieze reads ANNO DOMINI MCCCCCLXX3. frieze around room has elaborate
scrolls punctuated with blank shields. Gallery opens off end of chamber.
Shallow segmental vault with ribs and floral motifs at intersections.
Stair tower has stone newel stair. Service wing all remade 1950's. Stone
doorcases. (Jope, E.M. 'Studies in Building History' 1961. 206-208 &
Pl.XXIII: Anthony, B. in Proc. of R.Arch. Inst. 1973, 245-247:
Trinick, M. National Trust Guide (1954) later revised.
Listing NGR: SW8365459404
