Roserrow

Roserrow is the remains of a manor house, now a farmhouse, dating to the early to mid 16th century, possibly with earlier origins. It is constructed of slate stone rubble with partial slate hanging on the south front elevation, and has asbestos and slate roofs. The roof line was altered when re-roofed in the late 20th century, creating a half-hipped end to the lower range on the right (east), a higher roof with gable ends to the central range, and a lower roof with hipped end on the left (west). Brick axial stacks rise from the gable ends of the higher range, and a projecting stone rubble front lateral stack projects from the righthand (east) range.

The surviving circa 16th-century fragments, including two fireplaces and moulded ceiling beams, suggest a house of considerable importance. However, the roof was replaced in circa late 17th or early 18th century, the house was remodelled in the 19th and 20th centuries, and the original arrangement of the plan remains uncertain. The house comprises a four-room single-depth range. The left (west) end contains a store and parlour. The central range holds a large hall or kitchen and associated space. The righthand (east) range contains a large room and store. Until the late 20th century, a through passage existed on the left (west) side of the hall or kitchen.

The hall or kitchen features an exceptionally large fireplace heated by an axial stack. A hall bay to the south has a lintel dated 1553. Remains of a stone newel stair, visible from within the roof space, originally stood to the south of the fireplace and was partly incorporated into the hall bay projection. It remains uncertain whether this room was originally open to the roof with the stair providing access to the first-floor chamber above the righthand (east) range. The circa early 16th-century detailing of the righthand (east) range indicates a room of importance, probably always sealed above ground floor and heated by a front lateral stack. There appears to be no direct access between the central hall or kitchen and the righthand (east) range; access is now provided through a circa 19th-century lean-to outshut to the rear (north).

In circa 18th or 19th century, the rear (north) wall of the righthand (east) range was partly rebuilt and a cross wall was inserted in line with the east jamb of the fireplace, dividing the large room into two. In circa early 18th century, the lefthand (west) range may have been partly rebuilt, with a straight joint evident on the south front elevation. The small parlour is heated by an axial stack backing onto the earlier through passage to the left (west) of the hall or kitchen. Beyond is a small store. In circa 19th century, a two-storey lean-to outshut was added to the rear (north) of the central and lefthand (west) ranges, extending across the northwest of the righthand (east) range.

The position of the entrance and through passage remains uncertain. The passage on the left (west) side of the central range may have been a 19th-century insertion, with the partition removed in the late 20th century. An alternative hypothesis suggests the through or cross passage may have been on the left (west) side of the righthand (east) range, implying the right (east) range was used as the hall, the central range as a kitchen, and the left (west) range as further service rooms. However, this would not explain the apparent lack of direct access between the right (east) and central ranges. Additionally, the moulded cross beams in the righthand (east) range exhibit no evidence of previous partitions.

The south front elevation is an overall asymmetrical four-window front with a hall bay to the central range set forward and a small lean-to outshut adjoining on the right. The left (west) range has a door to the store and a circa 19th-century 16-pane hornless sash. There is a part-glazed door to the possibly 19th-century through passage and hall bay to the right. A circa 19th or 20th-century glazed conservatory continues around the hall bay. A 4/8-pane sash sits in the lean-to outshut. The range on the right (east) has a projecting front lateral stack and circa 19th-century external stone rubble steps up to the loft. On the first floor, the west range has two 4/8-pane sashes, a double 4/8-pane sash sits above the through passage, a 4/8-pane sash is in the hall bay, and a timber porch accesses the loft on the right.

The north elevation shows the east range on the left with several straight joints. A stable door sits to the left and a part-glazed 20th-century door to the right, with two 19th-century 2-light casements and a 19th-century 16-pane sash above. The range to the left comprises a circa 19th-century 2-storey outshut with 19th and 20th-century fenestrations.

In the interior, the central range contains a hall or kitchen heated by a very large fireplace. Its granite lintel comprises two pieces, originally raised in the centre to form a depressed 4-centred arch with a hollow chamfer. The left-hand granite jamb is roughly moulded, and the right-hand jamb has been replaced in the late 20th century. The keystone has also been replaced and two supporting piers inserted. The high ceiling beams are unmoulded and would have partly obscured the fireplace. The hall bay on the south has a timber lintel inscribed 1553. Remains of a slate stone newel stair, originally positioned on the right (south) side of the fireplace, are visible from within the roof space.

The righthand (east) range contains eight circa 16th-century intersecting ceilings of fine quality on its left (west) side, moulded with three alternating cavetto and roll moulds. Evidence suggests these continued to the right (east). A circa early to mid 16th-century fireplace heated by a lateral stack features a freestone depressed 4-centred arch with a deep hollow chamfer, a large keystone, hollow-chamfered granite jambs with pyramid stops, and a 4-centred dressed slate stone relieving arch above. A cross wall has been inserted in line with the east jamb of the fireplace.

The parlour in the lefthand (west) range has probably reset circa late 17th-century panelling with long narrow panels and beaded moulding around the edge. 18th-century china cupboards have incised pilasters and shaped shelves. A circa early 18th-century chimneypiece features an eared architrave, moulded cornice, and 19th-century grate.

The roof structure dates to circa late 17th century. Principals are halved, lap-jointed and pegged at apices and morticed into tie beams. Collars, probably added, are lap-jointed and pegged onto the face of principals. Four trusses span the central range and five trusses span the lefthand (west) range. The roof structure above the righthand (east) range is not accessible.

Roserrow was the residence of the Pernekuill family in the first half of the 16th century. Soon after 1628, it was alienated to the family of Carew of Antony, who used it as their occasional residence. It was converted into a farmhouse in circa 19th century. Although remodelled in the 19th and 20th centuries, Roserrow contains several features of circa early to mid 16th-century date which are of a quality rarely surviving in Cornwall. No remains of an earlier chapel at Roserrow have been identified.