Roscarrock House

Has been described as a Possible Fortified Manor House

There are major building remains

NameRoscarrock House
Alternative Names
Historic CountryCornwall
Modern AuthorityCornwall
1974 AuthorityCornwall
Civil ParishSt Endellion

House built around courtyard. Circa late C15 or early C16. Service wing possibly added or remodelled in early C19. Built for Roscarrock family. The house is built around a courtyard with the main ranges facing south east and south west, the service range facing north east and a curtain wall enclosing the fourth side on the north west with a small tower on the west. Wall of ashlar stone notable for fine quality of constrution with battlemented granite parapet. The C19 accounts of Roscarrock include those of C.S. Gilbert who decribed the house in 1817 as "a strong castellated building" of which many of the massive walls were "falling into decay". The chapel which apparently stood to the west of the house was "in great part demolished". Charles Spence's account of 1856 and Trevan's account of 1820 also describe the chapel and decay of other parts of the house. Roscarrock is one of the most important buildings in North Cornwall, comprising an interesting courtyard plan which is largely intact. The quality of the circa late C15 roofs is outstanding and a rare survival. (Listed Building Report)

A visit by CAU revealed a possible gunloop at SW 9874 8045. This was a greenstone block, pierced with a dumb-bell shaped hole. The stone was found redeposited with other stones including a granite moulding. The gunloop is similar to examples on the ground floor at Pengersick Castle and suggests that Roscarrock manor house may have been partly fortified. (Cornwall & Scilly HER)

Not scheduled

This is a Grade 1 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 ReferenceSW985803
Latitude50.5883102416992
Longitude-4.84615993499756
Eastings198580
Northings80390
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Emery, Anthony, 2006, Greater Medieval Houses of England and Wales Vol. 3 Southern England (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press) p. 626
  • Robertson, R. and Gilbert, G., 1979, Aspects of the Domestic Architecture of Cornwall p. 39
  • Chesher, V.M. and F.J., 1968, The Cornishman's House p. 34-6
  • Gilbert, C.S., 1817, An Historical Survey of the County of Cornwall Vol. 2

Journals

  • Spence, Charles, 1856, 'Iter Conubiense' Transactions of the Exeter Diocesan Architectural Society Vol. 5