Trerice

Details

ST NEWLYN EAST TRERICE SW 85 NW 1/55 Trerice 28.2.1952

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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

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

63996

Legacy System:

LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Trinick, M, National Trust Guide, (1954)
Jope, E M, Studies in Building History Cornish Houses 1400-1700, (1961), 206-208
Proceedings of the Royal Archaeological Institute in Proceedings of the Royal Archaeological Institute, (1973), 245-247

End of official list entry