Pencarrow

About Pencarrow

Pencarrow, the much-loved home of the Molesworth-St Aubyn family for nearly 500 years, is tucked away in rolling countryside on the edge of Bodmin Moor. Set in 50 acres of Grade II* woodland and gardens, this Georgian house was redesigned in the 1770s and boasts an impressive library with secret “jib” door (think Harry Potter meets Alice in Narnia), elegant but lived-in reception rooms, period bedrooms and collections of family prams, dolls, oriental porcelain, fascinating antique furniture and portraits, including those by Sir Joshua Reynolds, Raeburn and more recently, Sir Oswald Birley. The present owners can trace their occupancy back to the time of Queen Elizabeth I, when John Molesworth was appointed Auditor to the Duchy of Cornwall. However, the most notable owner was the 8th baronet, Sir William Molesworth, born in 1810, who took his place in Parliament as the “Radical Aristocrat” at the early age of 22. His passion for plants as well as politics saw him appointed as First Commissioner of Works and responsible for (shock horror!) opening Kew Gardens on Sundays, and as Secretary of State for the Colonies working to repeal the transportation of convicts to Australia. During his time at Pencarrow, he laid out the elegant Italianate Gardens and collected specimen conifers from around the world, some of which still tower over the rhododendrons and camellias that line the mile-long carriage drive. After the Second World War, during which time the gardens became neglected, another resurgence came with the arrival of Lt. Col. Sir Arscott Molesworth-St Aubyn, who set about restoring the grounds with the same enthusiasm as his ancestor William had done 100 years before. There’s a surprise round every corner from the time you arrive. First you come across a 2,000-year-old Iron Age hill fort; then, once you’ve started to explore, you’ll discover a Victorian lake and ice house, grotto, massive rockery of Cornish granite boulders, superb specimen conifers and many varieties of rhododendron, plus azaleas, magnolias and camellias galore.

Dogs welcome, café and children's play area.