Cusgarne House

GWENNAP LOWER CUSGARNE SW 74 SE 5/146 Cusgarne House - GV II* Farmhouse. Probably C17 but front partly rebuilt or refaced and rear extended circa mid C18. Killas and granite rubble with granite quoins and jambstones. Wooden lintels with traces of stucco, incised to resemble voussoirs. Hipped dry Delabole slate roof to front with alternate crested clay ridge tiles and wooden eaves cornice with bobbin detail. Scantle slate and some dry slate to rear. Brick chimney over side walls and to gable ends of rear wings. 2-room plan with central stair in rear turret flanked by adjoining projecting service wings, each with 1 room. Large lateral chimney breast survives from earlier period to rear of front right (east) room. Large chimney breast of same period to west of left room. 2 storeys. Nearly symmetrical 3-window south front. All original mid C18 paired sashes with original wide glazing bars with internal ovolo moulding. Wide openings. The word 'Cosgarne' is scratched on 1 pane of ground floor left window. 12-panes per sash except 16-panes per sash to wider window over wide nearly central doorway. Original 6-panel door with top two panels later glazed. Original flanking sidelights each with 8-panes. Wide hood with moulded cornice over doorway supported on brackets and with consoles flanking door. Some arch and jambstones probably from earlier front survive in yard wall to rear (north) of kitchen. Interior is virtually unaltered since the mid C18 and has dado panelling to entrance hall and front rooms; formerly with horizontal boarding to right (east) room but now divided into rectangular panels. Otherwise panelling is fielded or with ovolo moulding, except some smaller panels probably from earlier period of house reused in entrance hall above dado level and to large walk in cupboards. Arch between vestibule and stair. Original moulded chair rails, doors with fittings, architraves and window shutters. Fine dog-leg stair with moulded handrail and newel caps and splat balusters. Kitchen to rear east has slate flagged floor and bowtell moulded beams. First floor and roof not inspected but said to be original. Cusgarne House was rented by James Watt between 1781 and 1800, during which period he supervised the installation of steam engines to his design, being fitted to mines in Cornwall. An unusually intact mid-C18 interior and rare survival of complete mid-C18 fenestration with much original glass. Rear elevation is also unspoilt and overlooks courtyard of unaltered circa early C19 stone outbuildings.

Listing NGR: SW7589740799