Court Farmhouse

Court Farmhouse is a private house in Trevalga village, formerly the lower end of a farmhouse. It dates to circa late 16th century, possibly with earlier origins. The building is constructed of slate stone rubble with a slate roof featuring gable ends. A stone rubble stack sits on the right-hand gable end.

The building has been extended on the front right with a stone rubble parallel single-room wing that has gable ends and a brick end stack on the right. The plan has been considerably altered over time. Originally it comprised two or more rooms and a through passage. In the late 20th century, the higher end on the left was substantially remodelled, the front wall largely rebuilt, and an extension added on the front left. This higher side was divided above the through passage to form a separate house known as Little Court. Court Farmhouse now consists of the through passage and the lower right-hand room of the earlier building.

The lower room is heated by an end stack (the cloam oven has been removed) and is of sizeable dimensions, considerably larger than the service room normally associated with a Cornish farmhouse of this size. A semi-circular turretted stair projects to the rear towards the higher side. In the circa 1870s, a front wing of single-room plan, heated by an end stack, was added to the front of the right-hand room.

In the mid to late 20th century, probably contemporary with the remodelling of the higher side, the front entrance to the through passage was blocked, a window inserted, and the passage converted for use as a scullery. The entrance in the left-hand side wall of the front wing then became the main entrance. A service outshot, which possibly continued across the rear elevation below the stair turret, was possibly removed in the mid 20th century.

The building is two storeys with an asymmetrical four-window front, the right side being a 19th century wing. The earlier range on the left has two 20th century windows on the ground floor, the left-hand window occupying the partly blocked earlier entrance. The first floor has a four-pane window and a four-pane sash. The 19th century wing on the right features a three-tripartite hornless sash on the ground floor, two hornless four-pane sashes on the first floor, and a 20th century glazed door in the left-hand side.

The rear elevation shows a wide 20th century window in a blocked door opening on the ground floor, now lighting the large right-hand room, and a 20th century window lighting the stair turret. Below the eaves there is evidence of partial rebuilding suggesting that the eaves have been raised. However, as there is no evidence of this in the gable end, it appears that either the gable end has been partially rebuilt or the disturbance is associated with a lean-to outshot which has now been removed.

The interior contains circa 19th century ceilings in the through passage and possibly early 18th century ceiling beams with slight chamfer in the right-hand room. The fireplace is blocked and a Rayburn stove has been inserted. The treads to the turretted stair are carpeted but are probably of slate. The first floor is not accessible for inspection.

Court Farmhouse was originally one of at least three farmhouses in the small village of Trevalga, the others being Trevalga Farmhouse and Churchtown Farmhouse. All three are in close proximity to the Church of St Petroc, with Court Farmhouse situated directly to the north-east of the church.