Mount Edgcumbe Fortified House

Has been described as a Possible Fortified Manor House

There are no visible remains

NameMount Edgcumbe Fortified House
Alternative Names
Historic CountryCornwall
Modern AuthorityCornwall
1974 AuthorityCornwall
Civil ParishMaker With Rame

The original fortified mansion of Mount Edgcumbe was built about 1553 but was burnt down during the Second World War; it was rebuilt on the original foundations in 1959. Details of the original plan were recorded by E.M. Jope during its demolition prior to rebuilding. The C16 house had round towers at the angles which were replaced by large octagonal towers in the late C18; a library wing was added in C19. The entrance hall was lofty and imposing with marble columns and pilasters (PastScape–ref listing description).

Gatehouse Comments

There was pirate activity in the area in the C16 but how fortified the house was may be questioned. Built by Sir Richard Edgecombe of Cotehele in an existing deer park (PastScape Hob no 437539) so probably a replacement for a medieval house, and given the family name, one of some antiquity. The Edgecombe's were a military family who held significant local positions (and consequently had local enemies in the gentry classes) and who's house at Cotehele was also fortified. Clearly residential rather than military, although dressed up with military symbolism reflecting the families social role, but also able to resist an armed band of pirates or jealous rivals.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

This is a Grade 2 listed building protected by law

Historic England Scheduled Monument Number
Historic England Listed Building number(s)
Images Of England
Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSX453527
Latitude50.3580513000488
Longitude-4.17351007461548
Eastings245300
Northings52750
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

No photos available. If you can provide pictures please contact Castlefacts

Most of the sites or buildings recorded in this web site are NOT open to the public and permission to visit a site must always be sought from the landowner or tenant.

Calculate Print

Books

  • Cooper, Nicholas, 1999, Houses of the Gentry, 1480-1680 (Yale University Press) p. 30, 40, 158
  • Rawlings, K.J., 1984, Defence Works Plymouth Area 1300-1983
  • Pevsner, Nikolaus; revised by Enid Radcliffe, 1970, Buildings of England: Cornwall (Harmondsworth) p. 123
  • Lake, W., 1870, History of Cornwall Vol. 3 p. 256-7

Journals

  • 1974, 'Parochial Check-Lists of Antiquities' Cornish Archaeology Hendhyscans Kernow Vol. 13 p. 68, 71 online copy
  • 1958, Medieval Archaeology Vol. 2 p. 208 download copy
  • 1939, Transactions of the Devonshire Association Vol. 71 p. 178-9
  • Edgcumbe, Lady Ernestine, 1899, 'Mount Edgcumbe' Cornish Magazine Vol. 2
  • Country Life iv p. 238, xi p. 317, cxvi p. 794, cxxviii p. 1550, cxxviii p. 1550, p. 1958

Other

  • Mount Edgcumbe Country Park, 1983/4, Manpower Services Commission Survey of Mount Edgcumbe Country Park (Cornwall County Council)