Tredethy Country House Hotel

This is a country house dating to the 17th century, likely built on the site of an earlier structure. It was significantly altered in 1892 by the architect Silvanus Trevail. The house is constructed of stone rubble with granite dressings, topped by a double-span slate roof with gable ends and a canted hipped end to the front left. Moulded brick axial and end stacks are also present.

The original range appears to form the rear east side of the main building. A notable feature of the earlier house is a barrel vaulted ceiling, probably for a principal chamber on the first floor. In 1892, the house was extended to the west and across the front of the original range, creating a double-depth plan. The main entrance, in the west-central section, opens into a large hall heated by an axial stack, with two principal rooms flanking the hall – heated by end stacks. A staircase was inserted into the original range at the rear of the hall, partially cutting through the 17th-century ceiling on the first floor. A stable range originally stood to the rear of the house, now converted for domestic use, with a service range to the rear right.

The two-storey exterior has an asymmetrical 1:3 window arrangement. There are two-storey canted bay windows to the right and left, and a 19th-century stone porch with pilasters and entablature to the left of centre. The porch contains a 19th-century door with a three-light sash window to the left, and sash windows in the canted bays. The first floor has paired sashes above the entrance, a sash to the right, and sashes in the canted bays. 20th-century dormers are visible in the attic.

The interior contains original joinery and fittings from 1892. A prominent open-well staircase features barley-sugar twist balusters, a moulded rail, and square newels ornamented with carved lion’s heads. The principal chamber, belonging to the original 17th-century range, has a barrel vaulted ceiling with moulded ribs, restored floral motifs, a finial, and a moulded cornice. This ceiling was truncated when the staircase was inserted in 1892, though it is believed to be continued within the roof space. Several pieces of late medieval tracery have been recovered from the garden, suggesting an earlier house existed on the site.

The house has an interesting history, originating as an early 17th-century country house possibly with 15th-century origins. It was extended in 1892 by Silvanus Trevail for Francis J. Hext, and was previously the home of the Rev Charles Peters, a Hebrew scholar. In the mid-20th century, it was occupied by Prince Chula of Thailand. It now operates as a country house hotel.