Location

SITUATION: Penwarne Manor, situated in the Cornish countryside, occupies an elevated position within an area of outstanding natural beauty close to the coast. The property is about midway between Falmouth and the Helford River estuary and about a mile from the village of Mawnan Smith. In the village is a thatched pub, primary school, village shop, church, café, garage and bowling and cricket clubs with playing fields.

Mawnan Smith is home to two of Cornwall’s most famous gardens, Trebah and Glendurgan, which share much planting and development history with Penwarne.

About one and a half miles further on is Helford Passage with the popular Ferryboat Inn beside the gorgeous Helford River, inspiration for Daphne du Maurier’s - Frenchman’s Creek. Close by are the beaches at Maenporth and Swanpool, as well as Rosemullion Head.

The neighbouring village of Porth Navas sits at the head of a creek running into the Helford River which provides some of the country’s best sailing waters leading out into Falmouth Bay.
A short drive away is the port of Falmouth, home to the Royal Yacht Club and several maritime and arts festivals throughout the year. The town also has an excellent selection of shops, art galleries, restaurants and a well-established University. The city of Truro, with full shopping and educational facilities including Truro School and Truro High School is about 11 miles away. Golfing enthusiasts are catered for with notable courses at Budock Vean, Falmouth and Trevose.

Penwarne is well located for transport links, with a railway station in Truro with mainline connections to London (Paddington) and access, via the A39, to the A30 leading east to Exeter and the M5 motorway. About 32 miles away is Newquay Airport with regular flights to both London and European destinations.

DISTANCES: Mawnan Smith 1 mile, Helford Passage 2.7 miles, Falmouth 4 miles, Truro 11 miles (all distances and times are approximate)

Description

HISTORY
Penwarne, featured in Barry Gamble’s Great Houses and Gardens of Cornwall, makes its first written introduction in the Mawnan Assize Roll in 1313. In the Middle Ages the possessor of the Manor of Penwarne was the Bailiff of the Hundred of Kerrier whose responsibilities included impounding stray animals. The fields at Penwarne were still being used for this purpose in the early 20th century. Originally the home of the Penwarne family who were descendants of the Bloyou family, in the 14th century the family were known to have a private chapel, believed to have been to the west of the old house. In the 16th century Richard Penwarne married a wealthy heiress and it seems likely that the original house was re-built around this time. The estate was sold to John Russell of Falmouth in 1729 and eventually on to Michael Nowell, also of Falmouth, in 1786 and the current house was built to the north of the old one.

In 1858 Penwarne passed to Reverend Peters, who was mainly responsible for the planting and laying out of the gardens in the 1860’s and 70’s and the work was carried on and developed by his son in law, Reverend Tonkin.   

In 1927 it was sold to the painter, William Ayerst Ingram, whose work can be seen in the Falmouth Art gallery, and then through other owners including the Holman family, important Cornish industrialists and engineers and to a Dr Beister from Essen in 1983, who undertook a major structural renovation of the house. The current owners have been at Penwarne for about 20 years and have carried on the meticulous care and development of the house and gardens, now recorded in the Cornwall Garden Trust and opened in the spring in support of charitable causes. The house has also been used in film sets.

DESCRIPTION
Situated in its beautifully quiet, rural setting, overlooking the stunning gardens and with scenic views to the sea, Penwarne Manor is a classic late 18th century Georgian house with symmetrical stuccoed elevations, sash windows and hipped slate roof and is listed as being of architectural or historical interest, Grade II*. The long entrance drive leads in from the north- east and down to the gravel entrance drive to the front of the house and from the forecourt a flight of steps rise to the pillared Ionic porch with triangular pediment. The rooms are of classical high ceilinged proportions and layout, typical of the architectural period and retain many of their original features, such as mahogany panelled doors, decorative plaster ceiling cornices, shuttered sash windows and fireplaces with decorative marble surrounds and mantel. The house has been meticulously modernised and improved whilst taking great care not to compromise its period character and charm. There are European oak boarded floors throughout much of the ground floor and the entrance and staircase halls are divided by an elliptical archway. Double doors opening between the sitting room, panelled dining room and fully fitted kitchen with Bathstone flagged floor and 4 oven Aga create a lovely open plan family living area. Off the kitchen is a broad paved terrace providing a delightful sitting and eating out area with views to Falmouth Bay where there is planning permission in place for an orangery. There is a large drawing room on the other side of the hall and off the rear hall is the games room, study and library, cloakroom and utility room. At the back is the boot room with access to the rear courtyard and the cellars with fitted wine bins.

The broad turned staircase overlooked by an arched sash window leads up to the landing and the beautifully spacious principal suite which has a bedroom enjoying stunning views over the gardens, countryside and sea beyond, a fitted dressing room and large bathroom including a shower and central rolltop bath.

There are two further bedrooms off this landing, each with the same lovely views to the sea. From the inner landing, there is another bedroom and bathroom in addition to a bedroom with en suite shower room, both with views to the mature gardens. From a mezzanine landing stairs lead to the guest suite with bedroom and a generous en suite bathroom with views to the meadow garden and tennis court.

There are current planning permissions for an orangery, an enhanced boot room and an agricultural barn.

GARDENS & GROUNDS
The grounds are recorded by the Cornwall Gardens Trust and were noted as magical by the Good Gardens Guide. To the southwest of the house a path leads to the lovely walled garden with glasshouse, kitchen garden, cut flower beds, colourful herbaceous borders and incorporating the heated swimming pool. To the north of the house, within the gardens, is the enclosed recently refurbished hard tennis court, beside which is a stone building incorporating a WC and shower.

From the gravel forecourt in front of the house an extensive area of lawn, fringed by specimen trees including Copper Beech Dawn Redwood, Japanese Cedar and Monkey Puzzle, slopes gently down to the formal gardens. All around the house and extending to about 11 acres, the truly idyllic gardens are a particular feature of Penwarne, having been lovingly cared for, improved and extended by a succession of owners. The Holman family carried out a drainage programme that has created delightful small running streams providing added charm. The Ingrams planted seedlings collected by Kingdon Ward and the Williams made further plantings of rhododendrons and camellias. Dr Beister planted up much of the northern area and the current owners have been working on further improvements to all the garden areas.

A path leads northeast to the duck pond with fountain, water tower, and fringed with tree ferns (Dicksonia Antarctica) and a variety of specimen trees including Camellia, Rhododendron, Magnolia, Chusan Palm and Handkerchief Tree. Below this is the Japanese Garden with Gingko, Acers, Flowering Cherry and Pond. Below this again is a denser area called The Jungle, with bog garden, Asian Rhododendrons, Plane trees, Tulip tree and Coast Redwoods. A shelter belt with conifers marks the boundary and to the west is the productive orchard with medlar and apple trees. There is a network of winding paths throughout the gardens.

To the north of the house is the meadow garden, incorporating the tennis court and adjoining the gardens to the east are two gently sloping pasture paddocks with stunning views to the sea. A long driveway leads out to the northeast, through the bluebell woods.

OUTBUILDINGS
To the rear of the house is an open fronted garage building and old stone stables which now incorporate the water filtration equipment, wood and bicycle storage. Off the main drive to the northwest of the gardens is a stone under slate stable building with concrete yard and to the southwest corner of the gardens a track leads to the listed former coach house and stables, currently used for storage of estate garden machinery and wood supplies.

THE COTTAGES
On the other side of the western driveway, from the house and gardens, are 2 separate cottages Penwarne Lodge and Penwarne Cottage, both dating from 1900 and accessible from a separate driveway. These properties offer the opportunity for income generation, extended family or staff accommodation. Penwarne Lodge, with its large garden has been refurbished and offers excellent rental income as a holiday let. It has a sitting room with fireplace and wood burner, dining room, contemporary fitted kitchen, 2 bedrooms and bathroom. Penwarne Cottage has a sitting room with fireplace and wood burner, fitted kitchen, bathroom and 2 bedrooms with far reaching views to the sea. Penwarne Cottage also benefits from an attached garage.

Directions

From Falmouth, leave the town along Dracaena Avenue and at the Ponsharden roundabout, turn left and continue up the hill (A39) in the direction of Mabe/Penryn by-pass. At the top of the hill, turn left and continue along Union Road, then turn right at the next roundabout in the direction of Mawnan Smith/Constantine/Helford Passage. Turn left and continue along Hill Head Road until the crossroads. Turn left here following signs to Mawnan Smith. After a short distance the roads splits. Turn left here into No Man’s Land. Continue until the granite gateposts mark the entrance to the private driveway into Penwarne Manor.