Bochym Manor House

Bochym Manor House is a serpentine ashlar mansion of late medieval origin, substantially extended in the mid to late 17th century and again in 1699, with major remodelling or rebuilding undertaken in 1851. The walls are constructed of coursed dressed serpentine and serpentine rubble with granite dressings for principal architectural details. The roofs are covered in Delabole slate with ashlar chimneys of circa 1851 positioned over gable ends and gabled lateral stacks, complemented by roof gables over bay windows on the principal front, a lantern over the stair, and a louvre over the rear right gable end.

The house's plan evolved substantially over its history. The original structure was probably a 3-room and through-passage plan with the lower end to the left. During the 17th century, a long cross wing was constructed at the higher right end, transforming the original inner room into a stair hall and adding a parlour to the front with service rooms at the rear. In 1699, the parlour wing was extended by an additional parlour and underwent remodelling. The service rooms and main parlour feature three large lateral stacks on the outer side of the cross wing, whilst a further stack at the front gable end serves the second parlour. The original 3-room and through-passage range was substantially rebuilt in 1851, probably retaining the rear wall with its central lateral fireplace, but the plan was remodelled to form two equal-sized principal rooms on either side of a central entrance hall. Circa 1851, service rooms were provided in a shallower adjoining range parallel to the rear, and servants' accommodation (Bochym Cottage) in a range to the rear, enclosing a small courtyard. The building is mostly two storeys with attics, though the parlour wing rises over a cellar or basement.

The main east front, rebuilt in 1851, displays a principal 1:1:1 bay arrangement in serpentine ashlar with a datestone on the left-hand gable. It features a plinth, mid-floor and eaves strings. The central element comprises a pointed arched doorway with hood-mould, over which sits a 4-light mullioned window with king mullion. Canted bay windows occupy the ground and first floors to both left and right, surmounted by coped gables with ball finials. These bay windows are lit by 3-light mullions with sidelights; the ground floor windows have transoms and the gables contain vertical oval oculi with square hood-moulds. The gable end of a dismantled 19th-century conservatory adjoins at the left of the rear. A gable end of the former conservatory with chimney adjoins to the left of the rear elevation.

The parlour range east front maintains a 1:1:1 bay arrangement, with a similar circa 1851 bay to the middle. The left and right bays retain 17th-century 4-light mullioned windows with central mullions only and hood-moulds over those to the ground floor. The right-hand windows are taller and contemporary with the 1699 walling, which bears a datestone with initials B.R.M. in the front gable end, whilst the left-hand windows are probably 1699 insertions into earlier 17th-century walling. Single-light windows serve the cellars. The right-hand side wall of the cross wing (north) displays three 17th-century 2-light windows, one of which has probably been resited. A lean-to former stair turret, positioned roughly at the middle, retains an original 17th-century slit window. One large lateral gabled stack stands to the left of the turret, with two more positioned to the right. A Victorian lean-to, now roofless, stands in front of the right-hand stacks, featuring 19th-century mullioned windows, with two further windows of leaded glazing inserted to the left-hand stack at mid-floor level and a similar window to the first floor between this stack and the former stair turret. At the far left are two openings spanned by 17th-century ovolo-moulded wooden lintels with ogee tongue stops. Windows facing into the rear cobbled courtyard are 2- or 3-light casements with wooden latticed glazing bars, probably circa 1850.

The interior of the main range, remodelled in 1851, contains a drawing room to the left executed in the French Empire style, featuring ornate wall panels, pilasters, door architraves and ceiling cornices. Exposed chamfered cross beams and joists are visible, and there is a dancing horseshoe chimney piece with cherub consoles, flanked by framed picture windows overlooking the adjoining conservatory gable end. The library to the right also displays exposed and chamfered beams and joists alongside some linenfold panelling.

The parlour wing contains a fine mid to late 17th-century stair of exceptional quality, with two principal reception rooms and chambers over, virtually complete and unaltered since 1699. The stair is of oak, open-welled with a closed string, column-turned balusters, ball finials and pendants to newels, rising through two floors. The principal larger parlour features bolection-moulded walnut panelling and moulded ceiling cornice, with a plaster ceiling incorporating a robust oval roll-moulded central feature modelled in high relief. An earlier 17th-century granite fireplace with chamfered lintel and jambs with ball over pyramid stops has been revealed in place of a bolection-moulded chimney-piece of simulated marble documented in a National Monuments Record photograph of 1952. The inner parlour to the east also exhibits bolection-moulded panelling, executed in pine. The chamber above, clearly intended as the principal chamber, possesses fielded oak panelling with moulded cornice and 3-panel doors retaining original hinges. The chimney piece features fluted Corinthian pilasters and a complete entablature with modillions to the cornice, all framing a granite fireplace with moulded jamb cornices. The corresponding fireplace in the room below has a similar granite frame. The adjoining, larger room is panelled in pine with simpler details. A 'secret' closet or garderobe is located in the north east corner, utilizing space over a stair that links the inner parlour to the principal chamber.

Bochym was the house of Winslade, one of the leaders of the Cornish Rebellion of 1549. Although substantially remodelled during the 19th century, the remodelling was undertaken in a style inspired by the original house. The parlour wing remains virtually intact, retaining its fine architectural character both externally and internally.