Houses/Gardens/Churches – Page 2

We recommend visiting the National Trust website to plan your visit
Saltram overlooks the River Plym and is set in a rolling landscape park that provides precious green space on the outskirts of Plymouth

Strolling along the riverside or through the woodland, you can almost forget that the city lies so close by

Saltram was home to the Parker family from 1743, when an earlier mansion was remodelled to reflect the family’s increasingly prominent position. It’s magnificently decorated, with original contents including Chinese wallpapers and an exceptional collection of paintings (several by Sir Joshua Reynolds). It also has a superb country house library and Robert Adam’s Neo-classical Saloon

Learn about some of the fascinating characters and family stories, including the correspondence between Frances, the first Countess, and Jane Austen

The garden is mostly 19th century, with a working 18th-century orangery and follies, beautiful shrubberies and imposing specimen trees providing year-round interest

The House usually decorates in a theme a Christmas time and opens/closes different parts of the house to better set the themed scene

Parking
Dogs are not permitted in the house or garden but may be walked in the surrounding parkland

Located about a mile outside the town of St Austell is an amazingly pristine, unspoiled example of a late Georgian working port. It was constructed between 1791 and 1801 by Charles Rashleigh, entrepreneur and member of the local landowning family, in response to the growth of the growth of the local mining industry. Originally built to export copper and import coal, it was soon being used for the export of china clay. It is from its creator that the the port gets its name.

Charlestown was formerly known as West Polmear with a population of 9 and a small fishing fleet that used the beach as a harbour. The project began with the construction of the pier to provide shelter for the fishing fleet and then the creation of a basin, cut out of the bedrock to allow the sailing ships in. The roads were widened and paved to allow for the wagons, which carried the cargo to and from the harbour.

Upon completion, Charlestown was a model Georgian “new town”. By the 19th Century various associated businesses were established in sheds and warehouses around the harbour such as pilchard curing, shipbuilding, brick making and lime burning, and the population exploded to close on 3,000.
Many attractive period properties sprung up in the village, ranging from elegant Georgian houses to squat fisherman’s cottages.

To this day the port remains unspoiled and retains much of its Georgian character. This unique combination has lead to Charlestown being a popular location for films and TV locations including Poldark, Hornblower, Mansfield Park and to some extent this has probably helped subsidise its existence and prevent development.

As well as being a harbour location Charlestown capitalises on it’s past by harbouring a fleet of square riggers ships. There are usually at least one of these magnificent ships in the harbour and they really do transport you into a bygone era.

Also worthy of mention is theShipwreck museum located in one of the old China Clay buildings, the centre contains a number of exhibits relating to Charlestown’s maritime past along with more general shipwreck salvage from Cornwall’s coast.

Dog Friendly

Things To Do

Our recommendations for days out and places to eat in Devon and Cornwall within a 30 mile radius of the old station

National Trust Saltram House

National Trust Lanhydrock House

Charlestown

The Signal Box and The Sidings offer a unique staycation in rural Cornwall with your own private hot tub and stunning panoramic view of Dartmoor National Park and the Tamar Valley (AONB), perfectly complemented by a touch of railway nostalgia.