Robert Jennings of the IGS London Chapter is arranging this year’s joint tour for the two societies, visiting many of the wonderful country houses of Cornwall. The aristocracy and gentry of the county built a number of good houses, from the middle ages to the 19th century. A remarkably large number are still occupied by the families that built them. Equally remarkable are the parklands and gardens – the temperate climate means they should be showing well in early May – and the fine settings overlooking rivers or landscape.
As usual, we will visit houses that are not open to the public or when the house is open we will usually arrange a private tour. The current programme, subject as ever to a satisfactory itinerary being arranged, includes: Werrington (little known mainly C.18th house in a fine setting), Kelly (atmospheric home to more than 30 generations of the Kelly family), Port Eliot (medieval and later house by Soane and others, seat of the Earls of St Germans), Pencarrow (fine Palladian house with notable portraits), Boconnoc (C18 house superbly restored in the last 20 years), Caerhays (picturesque castle by John Nash), Cotehele (best Tudor house in the county, beautifully sited above the Tamar), Lanhydrock (notable for its C17th and Victorian work) and Prideaux Place (Elizabethan home of the Prideaux-Brunes).
The tour this year will be based at The Lanhydrock Hotel, a privately-owned modern hotel standing in its own golf course, about 30 miles west of Plymouth. The hotel is in the countryside with secure parking but is very accessible to the A30 and A38. We will form the majority of guests in the hotel. There is a choice of two types of room: ‘luxury’ rooms are bigger, and have a nicer view overlooking the golf course (with a terrace if on the ground floor), while ‘executive’ rooms are slightly smaller and at the back of the hotel. Please note the luxury rooms can only be used as doubles or singles, not twins. If your chosen type of room is not available we will allocate you to another room and either make a refund or request an extra payment as the case may be.
The cost of the tour will be £625 per person sharing in a luxury room or £565 per person sharing in an executive room, and will include B & B for the nights of Friday 6th, Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th, lunch each day, dinner on Saturday and Sunday evenings, drinks at some but not necessarily all meals, transport on one evening to avoid using the cars at night, coffee or tea at some houses and house entrance fees. Single rooms are available at £715 (luxury room) or £685 (executive room).
The hotel has confirmed that accommodation is also available to members on the nights of both Thursday 5th and Monday 9th, and supper can be provided on the evening of Friday 6th, but please note that anyone requiring these MUST book direct themselves with the hotel and will be responsible for payment, as these are not included in the cost to the tour itself.
