Penpol House Including Garden Walls And Gate Piers And Gates To South West And Those To North Including Pump

Penpol House is a multi-phase dwelling occupying the south-west front of a substantial complex that originated in the 16th century, underwent significant remodelling in the 17th century, and was substantially altered and extended in the 18th and 19th centuries. The building complex includes associated garden walls, gate piers, gates, and a cast-iron pump.

The main structure presents a complex plan reflecting its building history. The original irregular cruciform arrangement (with a south-east wing now mostly demolished) was modified by the addition of a 17th-century wing at right angles to the rear right, and an 18th-century wing at right angles to the front right. The rear wing was substantially rebuilt in the 19th century as a two-room plan farmhouse with a rear outshut on the right and a front extension containing a washhouse. The main range retains two original front rooms within thick walls that were remodelled to serve as rear service rooms around 1760, when a new two-room plan front was created. A 17th-century stair tower projects from the rear of the entrance hall between these rooms. The rear right-hand wing contains 17th-century or earlier front rooms but was heightened in the 19th century, except for a short section of roof over the front part, and features a 17th-century doorway on its left-hand side.

The exterior is faced with slatehanging to the south-west and north-west gable ends, with painted rubble or rubble incorporating granite dressings elsewhere. Grouted scantle slate roofs are topped with tall brick chimneys positioned over the gable ends and side walls, and some cast-iron ogee gutters are visible.

The south-west front presents two storeys with a regular four-window slate facing. A doorway beneath the second-from-left first-floor window is sheltered by a slate hood on wooden brackets. The current door and windows are 20th-century replacements. A projecting gable end at the far right marks the wing, in front of which stands a gable-ended single-storey washhouse dating to the 19th century.

The north-west front has an overall four-window arrangement. A 17th-century hollow chamfered doorway is positioned right of centre. To the left is a symmetrical three-window front of 19th-century date with a 20th-century door and 20th-century horned sashes with glazing bars. To the right of the 17th-century doorway is a 20th-century copy three-light casement with eight panes per light, with a similar window above. In the centre rises the rear wall of the main range with its hipped-roofed 17th-century stair tower. The ground floor has 18th-century three-light casements retaining original crown glass and inner stanchions possibly for earlier leaded glazing; the upper floor windows are copies. The left-hand wall of the wing features an early 19th-century sash to the first floor.

The interior preserves significant period features. A late 17th-century coved and moulded plaster ceiling is positioned over the stair, with bolection moulded chimney pieces in the adjoining chambers. The circa 1760 work includes carpentry, joinery, and plasterwork including chimney pieces in the front chambers, a dog-leg stair with rectangular balusters, panelled doors, and moulded ceiling cornices. The roof structures, not fully inspected, retain some 18th-century or earlier work.

The garden walls to the south-west front are constructed of grouted rubble. The gateway features square-on-plan granite monolithic piers and 19th-century wrought-iron gates with arched bracing, cross-braced lock rail, and spear-head finials. Walls on the right form a path beside the front wing. The garden walls to the north-west front are of granite rubble; the wall in front of the right-hand part (No. 18) is older and lower, with hog's-back granite copings. Gate piers here are round-headed granite monoliths. The gate to No. 18 is 19th-century wrought iron with an arched top rail. A well is located in front of the right-hand end of the garden wall, over which stands a 19th-century cast-iron barrel pump retaining its original cranked handle.

Penpol has a notable historical record. The property was owned by the Godolphin family from the 16th century until 1639, when it was sold to Anthony Honeychurch of St Erth. By 1732 it was held by the Right Honourable Henry Robartes, Earl of Radnor, who leased it to John Curnow (Merchant Curnow). A daughter, Jane, married William Hocken, Rector of Phillack with Gwithian in 1770; another daughter, also Jane, married Richard Oke Millett of Marazion in 1771. In 1788 Richard Miller purchased Penpol from Lord Arundell. A later Dr. Richard Millet, who had been resident at Penpol until 1863, was accused by his brother-in-law Dr. Edmonds of poisoning his brother Jacob Miller by adding aconite to horseradish sauce served with beef. An inquest and trial followed, but he was acquitted. Since 1921 Penpol has been owned by the Ellis family.