Tornewton House

SX 86 NW TORBRYAN

4/33 Tornewton House -

• II

House, formerly the mansion house of the Peter family from at least C14 to C17. Present house mainly early C19 with Victorian alterations; possibly some C16 work at the back. Rendered stone, with a little brick. Slate roofs. A very complex building, but three main parts can be distinguished. The present main range, clearly built on to an earlier structure and possibly itself incorporating a pre- C19 building. Three storeys. Symmetrical 5-window front, the centre 3 second- storey windows grouped together. Centre doorway has projecting rectangular stone porch probably mid C19 now glazed on plinth. Doorway to porch and windows in each side-wall round-arched, with moulded archivolts continued as a string course at springing-level. Deeply projecting cornice and blocking course above. At either side in ground storey a pair of 4 light French windows with glazing bars and barred side lights having fringed blind-cases with long scroll-brackets at either side. Second-storey windows have similar blind-cases and (except for the middle window) bow-fronted guard-rails of trellised ironwork. Windows here are C19 4-panel timber sashes, with a high proportion of old glass surviving. Pilasters at either end of front with double incised instication. Over second storey a heavy wood cornice on big brackets, emulating a C18 eaves cornice. Third, attic, storey set back a little (probably a later addition) with three 2-light wood casement windows and flanking pilasters. The right hand gable over fenestrated with frames of various dates and patterns. Secondly a rear wing running off the main house at an angle, possibly the remains of an earlier house. Two storeys. Two rooms deep, the rear rooms being the older. 6-paned barred sash in each storey, ground-storey window having a round-headed window at either side. Rear wall has round-arched doorway with granite voussoirs, now converted to a window. Thirdly, an exterior stone and timber staircase, probably C19, with brick pillar having a moulded cap, supporting a timber canopy at the second half-landing and formerly ending under a pent roof now cemented in and serving a large addition at garrett level. Sir William Peter, Secretary of State to Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary and Elizabeth was born here. Seat of the Wolston family in the C18 and C19, John Wolston Esquire being the occupant in 1793. Interior not inspected.

Listing NGR: SX8156967865