Famous as the Birthplace, in 1340, of
the Infamous Sir Robert Tresillian

Set in 20 acres of grounds, this privately owned and elegant country house, provides a dramatic and imposing impression, as it breaks into view, when approached by the eastern drive with its coloured borders interspersed with ancient granite staddle stones.
Attractive and colourful shrubs and a herbaceous border surround the house with rolling well kept lawns stretching southerly towards the lake with its water loving plants - giant gunnera umbrellas, arum lilies, and bamboo galore, with green fields beyond.

In 1380 King Richard II levied the first poll tax on all adult males irrespective of their prosperity or poverty. In retaliation Tax Collectors were attacked and mobs began. The King appointed Sir Robert as Lord Chief Justice of England to resolve the trouble and within six months he condemned 1,500 peasants to death by hanging. Six years later he suffered the same fate when caught spying for the King, by his old enemy the Duke of Gloucester, and was hung at Tower Hill in 1386.

"The first purpose of a garden is to give happiness and repose of mind". Hugh Johnson.

On entry the first impression is of warmth and serenity, the scent of herbs, sweet peas and other flowers in season fills the air. The heat of the sun is retained by the high brick walls - if only they could talk! - which also act as protection from the wind.

Gravelled paths in the form of a cross, entered through classical arches draped with honeysuckle, clematis and roses, lead to a central bed of named culinary, aromatic and medicinal herbs.

Cordons of historic varieties of apples, peaches, cherries and pears are supported by the walls both inside and out, which are surrounded by espaliers of young and some very ancient gnarled apples and pears with moss covered trunks sprouting ferns. An interesting library of sixty varieties of Cornish apples, grafted or original root stock dating to 1800, was planted during the winter of 1993/4 with medlars and quince in the traditional diamond pattern.

"The Kitchen Garden, not planned for beauty's sake,
is often the most pleasing."

Highlights of the Gardens, month by month. According to John, the head Gardener:
April	Camellias in profusion, at their best. Prunus and other flowering shrubs. Young beech and other leaves springing into life. Daffodils, tulips and other spring flowering bulbs.
May	Bluebells and wildflowers in woodland Green Walks. Orderly vegetables - red flowering broad beans, blue and red flowering peas and early Victorian potatoes. Apple blossom at its peak with a carpet of wildflowers in the Apple Library. Unique 5ft Cornish gooseberry standards. Paulowina (blue foxglove tree) and styrax (snowbell tree) in Camellia Walk. Don't miss the wistaria in the Kitchen Garden.
June	Peaches on south facing walls and cherries on north. Victorian shrub roses. Honeysuckle and clematis. Victorian varieties of Sweet peas, not to be missed! - a riot of subtle shades. Black/red currants, gooseberries ripe for picking. Victorian white and pink flowering runner beans bursting at the seams!
Aug	Apple, pear and fig fruits setting up. Scrumptious Blenheim orange melons in the greenhouse. Large flowering globe artichokes look most attractive when past their best for eating.
Sept	Early varieties of apples, plums and peaches are ripe. Trees are beginning to don their autumn attire. Onions and other vegetables are ready for harvesting. Vast colourful pumpkins and vegetable marrows. Rowan, elder and other berries.