Castles and Houses of Devon & Cornwall

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Summary

The neighbouring counties of Devon and Cornwall offer a rich selection of historic houses across a broad expanse of English history, from medieval times through the Tudor, Georgian and Victorian eras and into the twentieth century.

Hartland Abbey was built in 1157 and used a monastery up until 1539 where is became the last monastery dissolved by Henry VIII. The abbey is nestled in a dazzling setting near Hartland Quay on the north Devon coast and is the family home of Sir Hugh and Lady Stucley. Prideaux Place has its origins in the Norman Conquest though the house we see today dates from the reign of Elizabeth I, and we see another fine Tudor house at Cothele in Devon. Lanhydrock, designed as an ‘unpretentious’ family home, dates back to the 17^th century and is surrounded by extensive gardens, ancient woodlands and quaint riverside paths. While Castle Drogo has the appearance of a medieval fortress, it was actually built in the early 20th century by the renowned Edwardian architect Sir Edwin Lutyens. Each house is steeped in family stories and reflects the uniquely colourful tapestry of English history. Caerhays Castle is nestled on Cornwall’s southern coast and has an air of timeless magic. The Williams family have called the castle home for many generations and the Grade I listed building showcase their accumulations over the past 140 years.