Heligan House

Heligan House is a house now in multiple occupation. It dates from circa the early 18th century, built on earlier foundations, with most of the structure rebuilt in 1727. It was remodelled and extended in the early 19th century, around 1810, with additions to the rear dating from the later 19th century, and further alterations made in the 20th century.

The building is constructed of painted brick and rendered stone rubble, with a hipped slate roof featuring lead rolls to the ridge and hips. The roof is topped with axial stacks and rendered shafts.

The plan consists of a double-depth arrangement with a central entrance and principal rooms to the front left and right. The stair hall is positioned to the rear centre, with service rooms to the rear left, and a further principal room to the rear right facing the garden. Two large service wings to the rear right and left enclose a narrow service courtyard.

The front range is probably the original early 18th-century range, heavily remodelled. The exterior presents 3 storeys with a symmetrical 2:3:2 bay arrangement. The centre three bays are broken forward on a chamfered stone plinth with a moulded stone string course above the ground floor windows, cornice and blocking course. A central Doric portico with paired columns faces forward and single columns to the rear features a triglyph and guttae frieze and cornice. The inner doors are half-glazed panelled double doors with an overlight. The ground and first floor windows are early 19th-century 12-pane sashes with internal panelled shutters; some windows are blind, blocked from within. The second floor has early 19th-century 9-pane sashes.

The right side is 3 storeys on a basement, presenting a symmetrical 2:2:2 bay arrangement with the two centre bays broken forward, a band course and cornice returned. The basement windows are 19th-century 16-pane sashes; the ground floor windows are 19th-century 15-pane sashes; the first floor windows are 19th-century 12-pane sashes; the second floor windows are 19th-century 9-pane sashes.

Attached to the right is a later 19th-century service wing of 2 storeys on a basement, 3 bays, constructed in painted stone rubble with a granite band course. The basement contains three 19th-century 12-pane sashes. A lower 2-storey range attached to the end right at basement and ground floor level has a screen wall attached at the end, rendered in stone rubble with a stone cornice and blocking course. The first bay features a round-arched multi-pane window extending through 2-storey height, set in a round-arched recess with stone imposts. Three bays to the right have 12-pane sashes at basement level and 9-pane sashes at ground floor level. The screen wall includes a round-arched gateway with 20th-century cast iron gates and blind roundels to right and left.

The left side is symmetrical with 6 bays, windows arranged in pairs at ground, first and second floors, with a band course, cornice and blocking course returned. Ground and first floor windows are 18th-century 18-pane sashes in exposed boxes; the second floor has 12-pane sashes. The four bays to the right may be of 18th-century build, with segmental arches to the ground floor windows. Basement windows have 20th-century casements.

Attached to the left is a single storey service wing, rendered, with a stone cornice and blocking course. There are three bays to right and left with a central 2-storey pavilion featuring a hipped roof. Three 20th-century windows serve the right and left; the pavilion has a 20th-century window and door at ground floor and a lunette with 20th-century glazing at first floor.

At the rear, there is random fenestration with sashes of varied sizes and 20th-century doors. The rear yard is at basement level, paved in stone and enclosed by a screen wall with a round-arched gateway and 20th-century cast iron gates.

The interior entrance hall contains an early 18th-century marble bolection-moulded chimneypiece to the left, with a moulded mantel, dado rail with moulded panelling, and a plaster cornice. To the rear, in the stair hall, two fluted Doric columns and pilasters form a screen. An imperial stair features a moulded wreathed handrail, stick balusters in triplets, and a Greek key frieze. The ground floor rooms contain 6-panelled mahogany doors. The first floor landing has a cast iron lattice screen with fluted Composite columns, a moulded frieze and cornice, and a central 6-panelled door with round-arched doorways with panelled reveals to right and left. At second floor level, columns take the form of fasces with a plaster cornice. A domed lantern features radial glazing bars with a rosette and frieze decorated with lion masks. The remainder of the house was not accessible, though some rooms are said to retain chimneypieces; the house appears to have been substantially remodelled when divided into multiple occupation.

The manor came into the possession of the Tremayne family in 1513 and remained with the family until the 20th century. Reverend H.H. Tremayne extended the house in the early 19th century.