Godolphin House, a magical Cornish property dating from 1475 and its even earlier gardens. Photo:Jeff Gilbert
Godolphin is a 15th century house with displays of horse drawn vehicles, reproduction maps, prints and documents as well as arms and armour. Old roses and herbs for sale. Teas in aid of charity on all open days. The House, was the home of the Godolphin family until the middle of the 18th century. Today's structure is only part of what was once a very extensive granite-built Tudor and Stuart house. The Godolphins, made their fortune from the local tin-mining industry, becoming one of the leading families of West Cornwall. By the middle of the 16th century, Godolphin House was an impressive building consisting of three main wings around a central courtyard which was closed off to the north by a crenulated wall. At this time, Sir William Godolphin - a soldier in the service of Henry VIII - made some alterations to the house and further work was carried out in the later stages of the 16th century by Sir Francis Godolphin (Governor of the Scilly Isles). During the 1630s, William Godolphin (son of Sir Francis Godolphin) added the north entrance range - replacing the crenulated screen wall and by the middle of the 17th century Godolphin House had reached the pinnacle of its development, boasting some 100 rooms by the year 1689. William Godolphin's grandson, Sidney, was appointed to the post of Lord Treasurer to Queen Ann between 1702 - 10, with responsible for financing the Duke of Marlborough's wars. He was later created Earl of Godolphin and his son married Marlborough's daughter. Sidney, the 1st Earl spent very little time at Godolphin House and the 2nd Earl even less. On the death of the 2nd Earl in 1766 the estate passed via his daughter to the Duke of Leeds. Large sections of the house were demolished in the year 1805, including the 16th century hall, as Godolphin was converted into a simple farmhouse. The Duke of Leeds sold the remnants of Godolphin House in 1929 and acquired by the present owner some seven years later. The north range, facing the entrance for
Size: 4367px × 2911px
Location: Godolphin House, Godolphin Cross, Helston, Cornwall TR13 9RE
Photo credit: © Jeff Gilbert / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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