Budshead, Remains Of Mansion And Outbuildings

Budshead consists of the remains of a mansion and outbuildings, now preserved as picturesque ruins in a public space. Dating from the 16th and 17th centuries, it was once the residence of the Gorges family. The mansion was largely demolished, and a farmhouse was constructed in the early 19th century, which has since been demolished as well, with the remains of the house further reduced since 1975. The structure is built from local rubble and dressed granite or volcanic stone.

The remains include walls surrounding a large square courtyard and additional walls on three sides of an irregular forecourt. There is a through-passage alignment from the front to the rear. The front doorway, which is embattled and buttressed, dates from the 16th century and is attached to a thick embattled curtain wall on its left. This doorway features a heavily moulded, 4-centred arch with carved spandrels and a square hoodmould. To the right of the forecourt is a detached former porch doorway from the 19th-century house, which has moulded coping above a square hoodmould, and its own moulded 4-centred arched doorway with carved spandrels and a cable moulding surrounding the tympanum. The wide doorway at the back of the forecourt appears to be a reconstruction and incorporates similar cable moulding. The moulded doorway at the rear has a 2-centred arch, and this feature is likely re-set or re-assembled. Nearby, the foundations of a former barn can be found, along with a cider-pressing base that has been repurposed as a seat.

Historically, Sir Ferdinand Gorges was appointed the first Governor of Maine in 1635. The property later came into the possession of the Trelawneys, with Sir Harry Trelawney, aide-de-camp to the Duke of Marlborough, known for his ornamental gardens at this site. The remains suggest that Budshead was once a significant house with fine architectural details. The remains of the outbuildings were listed on May 1, 1975.