Description

EGLOSKERRY PENHEALE
SX 28 NE
8/49 Penheale Manor
(formerly listed as Penheale
1.12.51 House)

GV I

Country house. Probably with medieval origins, although probably almost entirely
rebuilt after 1572 for George Grenville. Extended and remodelled for John Specott in
the 1630s and for his son Paul. Divided into 3 dwellings in the late C18. In the
early C20 Sir Edwin Lutyens was responsible for adding a south range for Captain N.R.
Colville. It appears that Lutyens was probably also responsible for several
alterations to the exterior and interior of the earlier range.
Stone rubble with ashlar granite north front. Cut slatestone, quartz and polyphant
stone in the south range. Slate roofs. C17 moulded granite caps to the axial, end
and lateral stacks.
Plan: The arrangement of the plan is uncertain as the interior was not available for
inspection at time of survey (1987). The entrance is near the centre of north
elevation, leading into a wide through passage with courtyard to rear and flanked by
principal rooms. There is a late C18 one-room plan wing to front left which is on
the site of an earlier wing (see the Spoure Book). The wings to rear right and left
enclose the first courtyard and the south ranges enclose a second courtyard which is
largely surrounded by Sir Edwin Lutyens' extensions. Lutyen's extended the lower
service wing and cellars on the south, south west and built a service range to the
abutting a C19 cider house in the south west corner. Lutyens then continued the
service range and nursery by returning the wing to north east and connecting with the
earlier range.
Exterior: North front of two storeys with moulded plinth, continuous string rising
to form hood moulds to the ground and first floor windows. The symmetry is broken by
the circa late C18 wing to front left. The entrance is near the centre with a 4-
centred granite roll-moulded arch with hoodmould and datestone 1636 PS GS (Paul
Specott and Grace). It is possible that this entrance was inserted, the Country Life
article of 1925 suggests that the entrance was originally in the east end- of the
front. Flanking the entrance a 6-light mullion window on left and two similar windows
to right. First floor with 3 similar windows and 3-light mullion window above
entrance. Battlemented parapet across north elevation. The rain water hoppers are
of circa 1636 with Paul Specott's arms impaling those of his first wife Grace
Halswell. The earlier part of the west elevation has been reduced in height to one
storey and cellar and was extended on right by Lutyens in a similar style, reusing
the earlier stone for a front lateral stack. Across the south Lutyens added a 4-
storey tower which is massive but simple in detail with two canted oriel bays on the
south side, corbelling out over the ground floor. This tower contrasts with the
adjoining C19 cider house on left which is of 2-storeys with simple shuttered
openings. To right of the tower, Lutyens' service range is of 2 storeys with
multiple moulded surrounds to the mullion windows and gable end of cross wing on
right. The east elevation of this wing contains a Lutyens' nursery window at first
floor level.
Interior: Not accessible. The Country Life article of 1925 describes fine quality
panelling and plasterwork including a hall screen of circa 1640, and oak panelled
parlour. The Lutyen's extension contains a stair of similar design but on a smaller
scale to that of Castle Drogo (information from owner) and the service rooms contain
joinery and carpentry details by Lutyens.
The Spoure Book 1698 Cornwall Record Office FS3/93/3/133
Edwards, R 'Penheale Manor House' Country Life March 28, 1925.

Listing NGR: SX2683087996

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Penheale Manor at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q17529381

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Building Small Projects (New Best of Fine Woodworking)
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  Historic Environment Law: Planning, Listed Buildings, Monuments, Conservation Areas and Objects by Harwood, Richard (2012) Paperback
• 
  County Durham (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England) by Elizabeth Williamson Nikolaus Pevsner(1983-03-11)
• 
  Derbyshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of Historic Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas
• 
  Period Property Manual (New Ed)