Caerhays Castle

CAERHAYS CASTLE

Country house built in 1808 by John Nash for J.B. Trevanion. This is a large castellated mansion of asymmetrical plan constructed in slatestone rubble with granite and Pentewan stone dressings, with lead roofs behind parapets.

The house presents two principal fronts. The entrance front faces north-west and features a large porte cochere; the garden front faces south-east and includes a 2-bay wing projecting to the left. Circular and polygonal towers are asymmetrically placed throughout. The interior plan, as described from external evidence, incorporates a long, wide gallery with a stair at one end, with library, drawing-room and other apartments leading off. Service quarters are attached to the south-west. The composition is picturesque Gothic in character.

The exterior is of 2 storeys overall, though towers rise to 3 storeys. The entrance front is nearly symmetrical with a central 2-storey embattled porch containing an open ground floor with ribbed plaster vault. Chamfered granite arches frame the front and sides, with an inner doorway fitted with double 3-panelled doors. To the left stands a polygonal tower with embattled parapet, buttress, and casement and loop windows. To the right is a square-plan tower with angle buttresses and a 2-centred arched chamfered doorway with hood mould. The tower features single-light casements and lancets with ventilation louvres at first floor, an embattled parapet, and an inner panelled and glazed door with 2-centred arched Gothic fanlight. Windows throughout include 2-light and 4-light casements, many with hood moulds; some retain original glazing with small panes, whilst others were altered in the later 19th century with larger panes. Lead rainwater heads are present.

The garden front is 2-storey with a centrepiece formed by two polygonal embattled 3-storey towers with casements at ground and first floors and blind windows at second floor. The arrangement is asymmetrical, with smaller windows at first floor. To the right stands a large circular-plan embattled 3-storey tower at the corner. To the left extends a 2-bay wing of 3 storeys terminating in a square-plan tower with corbelled embattled parapet. A small circular single-storey tower sits in the corner between the main front and the wing. A notable feature is a slender polygonal tower with ogee stone roof and cross finial set to the right of the centrepiece, contributing to the overall asymmetrical effect.

The north-east side has 3 bays to the centre with towers at each corner, each bearing corbelled embattled parapets. Ground floor windows are 4-light mullion and transom windows with hood moulds, with two doors to the right. First and second floors have casements that diminish in size upwards; upper windows retain original small panes. The side facing the service courtyard displays random fenestration.

The interior is not accessible to inspection.