Retainers Court And Screen Wall Attached To North

The Retainers' Court and screen wall at Cotehele, dating probably to around 1485, comprises dairy and stillroom ranges forming a courtyard, with a screen wall attached to the north. A later screen wall was likely added during the remodelling of the chapel. Subsequent additions occurred in the 17th, 19th, and 20th centuries. The buildings are constructed of slatestone rubble with granite dressings, and have slate roofs with ridge tiles, gable ends, and stacks with ashlar shafts, cornices, and shaped tops. The screen wall is faced with granite ashlar externally and slatestone rubble internally, incorporating granite dressings.

The complex consists of two ranges – the earlier range forming the west side of the courtyard, and the second range the south side. A screen wall with a gateway defines the north side of the courtyard, connecting the west range to the chapel. The west range has a two-room plan; the room to the left has a gable end stack, and the room to the right an axial stack. The south range is a single-room plan with gable end stacks on both ends.

The west range is two storeys high. It features paired, 4-centred arched doorways with roll mouldings on the left, with later 19th-century windows inserted. A similar doorway and windows are present to the right, along with a window and doorway at the right end. The first floor has a 3-light window with segmental arched lights, and three gabled dormers with 2-light casements. The gable end has 2-light granite casements at both ground and first floor levels. The rear elevation has three hollow-chamfered single-light windows with segmental arches at first floor, and two casements on the ground floor.

The south range is also two storeys high. It features a 4-centred arch doorway with roll-moulding, a 3-light window, and two single lights to the right on the front. The first floor has two 3-light, hollow-chamfered granite windows with segmental arches. A well is positioned to the front right. The left gable end has a single light at first floor, a 4-centred arched hollow-chamfered doorway, and a 2-light window above, mirroring the front elevation. An outshut of one storey and a loft is attached to the rear, creating a catslide roof and enclosing a cobbled rear corridor with a 4-centred arched doorway and single light above. The right gable end features a mounting block and a 2-light casement at first floor. The rear has 19th-century dormers, a central door flanked by casements.

The screen wall is faced with granite ashlar, and includes buttresses and an embattled parapet. A tall, 4-centred arched, moulded gateway with 20th-century wooden gates is present. The wall stands approximately 3 metres high. The interior of the buildings has not been inspected.