Lewarne

Lewarne is a house built in 1887, as indicated by a datestone. It is constructed from slate stone rubble with brick dressings, and has a slate roof with hipped ends. Brick stacks are located along the axial lines. The house is built into the side of a steeply sloping bank, resulting in a single-storey elevation facing the road and a two-storey elevation on the lower side, with a deep, battered base. The design cleverly accommodates the awkward site and provides magnificent views.

The plan has a double depth, and the entrance is in the left-hand side wall, leading directly into a wide passage. A staircase is set against the bank on the left, and two reception rooms are on the lower side (right), heated by back-to-back fireplaces. A service room is located behind the staircase, again against the bank.

The two-storey front elevation on the lower side features a battered base and two windows with segmental arched openings. A single-storey bay window illuminates the reception room on the front left, while a two-storey canted bay window in the right-hand side wall overlooks the valley. On the ground floor are two 3-light mullion and transom windows, with an ornate stone datestone positioned between them. The first floor also has two 3-light mullion and transom windows. A flight of stone rubble steps with iron railings leads down from the road to the entrance on the left-hand side elevation.

The interior retains good quality plasterwork. The reception rooms have plaster cornices decorated with egg and dart motifs, floral trails in ceiling bands, a marble chimney-piece, and a timber chimney-piece with marbelling in panels, complete with 19th century tiles and a cast-iron grate. The open string staircase is original, and a complete set of chimney-pieces are present on the first floor.

Lewarne is part of a group of similar houses overlooking a steep-sided combe leading down to Boscastle Harbour, alongside Valley View, Meachard, Glenfinart, Penrowan, Belmont, and Polqueens.