About Antony House
Antony is widely regarded as one of the finest Queen Anne-era houses in the West Country — a central block faced in silvery-grey Pentewan stone, flanked by brick wings and joined by colonnades, built for Sir William Carew between 1711 and around 1721. The Carew family has held the estate since the 15th century, and their descendants, the Carew Poles, still live in the house today.
Inside, Dutch-oak panelled rooms hold an outstanding collection of portraits — including work by Sir Joshua Reynolds and a striking painting of Charles I at his trial — alongside original 18th-century furniture, textiles and tapestries. The house is said to have inspired Daphne du Maurier's novel My Cousin Rachel, drawn from the story of Rachel Carew, whose portrait hangs in the hall. Antony's grounds have also appeared on screen, having served as a filming location for Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland.
Gallery
History
The Carew family's connection to Antony stretches back to the 15th century, but the house seen today dates from the early 18th century. Later generations left their own mark: in the 19th century, William Henry Pole-Carew — MP for East Cornwall — added the grand porte-cochère entrance visitors pass through now, and extended the house to accommodate a growing household and social calendar.
Antony's history is entwined with the upheavals of the English Civil War; two family members, Alexander and John Carew, were executed for their opposition to Charles I, and a portrait of the king at his own trial still hangs in the house. Outside, the landscape garden was laid out by Humphry Repton in the early 1800s, one of his most celebrated Cornish commissions, and today includes a historic collection of over 600 daylily cultivars gathered by Lady Cynthia Carew Pole in the 1960s and 70s.
Visiting Information
- Address
- Torpoint, Cornwall, PL11 2QA
- Opening times
- Open seasonally, roughly April to October; closed over winter while the house team carries out conservation work. When open, typical days are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, plus Sundays in June, July and August, and all bank holidays with their adjoining Sundays. Last entry to the house is 4pm; last entry to the garden and last café service is 4.30pm. The car park opens at 11.45am and gates are locked at 5.15pm. Days and hours vary year to year, so check the official Antony page before travelling.
- Admission
- Free for National Trust members. Non-member charges apply for house & garden — check the National Trust website for current pricing.
- Facilities
- Landscape garden with formal topiary and sculpture, a natural play area for children, and a Grade II* listed dovecote.
- Note
- The neighbouring Antony Woodland Garden is not part of the National Trust property — it's separately owned and run, with its own admission charge that applies even to National Trust members.
- Accessibility
- Ground floor of the house is wheelchair accessible with wide doorways; there is no lift to the upper floor. Garden paths are mainly gravel or grass.
- Contact
- antony@nationaltrust.org.uk
Opening times, admission prices and facility availability change seasonally — please confirm details on the official National Trust site before your visit.