GODOLPHIN HOUSE
Historic Cornish Country House

Accommodation in the Local Area

Location: Godolphin House Godolphin Cross, Helston, Cornwall TR13 9RE Tel: 01736 763194 Directions: 5 miles north-west of Helston, between Townshend and Godolphin Cross

Godolphin is a 15th century house with displays of horse drawn vehicles, reproduction maps, prints and documents as well as arms and armour. Old roses and herbs for sale. Teas in aid of charity on all open days.

The House, was the home of the Godolphin family until the middle of the 18th century. Today's structure is only part of what was once a very extensive granite-built Tudor and Stuart house. The Godolphins, made their fortune from the local tin-mining industry, becoming one of the leading families of West Cornwall.

By the middle of the 16th century, Godolphin House was an impressive building consisting of three main wings around a central courtyard which was closed off to the north by a crenulated wall. At this time, Sir William Godolphin - a soldier in the service of Henry VIII - made some alterations to the house and further work was carried out in the later stages of the 16th century by Sir Francis Godolphin (Governor of the Scilly Isles).

During the 1630s, William Godolphin (son of Sir Francis Godolphin) added the north entrance range - replacing the crenulated screen wall and by the middle of the 17th century Godolphin House had reached the pinnacle of its development, boasting some 100 rooms by the year 1689.

William Godolphin's grandson, Sidney, was appointed to the post of Lord Treasurer to Queen Ann between 1702 - 10, with responsible for financing the Duke of Marlborough's wars. He was later created Earl of Godolphin and his son married Marlborough's daughter. Sidney, the 1st Earl spent very little time at Godolphin House and the 2nd Earl even less. On the death of the 2nd Earl in 1766 the estate passed via his daughter to the Duke of Leeds.

Large sections of the house were demolished in the year 1805, including the 16th century hall, as Godolphin was converted into a simple farmhouse. The Duke of Leeds sold the remnants of Godolphin House in 1929 and acquired by the present owner some seven years later.

The north range, facing the entrance forecourt, is long and symmetrical with a ground level colonnade of Doric columns and mid-17th century mullioned and transcomed windows. Under the colonnade there is a gateway, dated 1575, which leads you through the original screen wall into the courtyard. Both the east and west ranges survived the early 19th century conversion, with mullioned windows of the east range which date from 1530 - 40 and the early 17th century in the west range. Only the front wall and the Gothic-arched porch remain from the south or hall range

The interior of the house is furnished with some fine examples of old furniture and tapestries. Some of the pieces are original to the house, having been bought back by the present owner.

The Entrance Hall features a splendid 16th century chimneypiece but the most exquisite features of the house are to be found in the Dining Room - with its linen-fold panelling and early 16th century carved beams. On the wall is a painting by John Wooton dated 1731, of the 2nd Earl's famous stallion 'Godolphin Arabian'.

On the first floor a passageway leads to the west range, which housed Godolphin's principal reception rooms during the 17th century. Most of the rooms have simple decoration, but the King's Room (originally the Great Chamber) features an ornately carved doorway - made in 1604 to commemorate the wedding of Sir William Godolphin to a daughter of the Sidney family.

There is an extensive range of farm buildings at Godolphin House, including the original Elizabethan stables. To the north and east sides of the house, recently discovered Remnants of the old formal gardens, which include raised walks and carp ponds, are currently undergoing restoration and clearance.