Ancient Estate Reunited forever - Godolphin House

The National Trust is delighted to announce that it has acquired Godolphin House and Garden, the centrepiece of one of Cornwall's most breathtaking historic estates.

Set within a beautiful countryside estate of 550 acres - which the Trust has owned since 2000 - Godolphin House (Grade 1 listed) is one of Cornwall’s most romantic old houses, with elements dating from the late Middle Ages. The garden is an almost unique survival from the fourteenth and sixteenth centuries and is rightly heralded as one of the most important in Europe. The Godolphin estate is part of the 'Cornish Mining' World Heritage Site.

The acquisition means the National Trust will take on the care of the beautifully conserved Godolphin House and Garden from the ownership of the Schofield family, who have sensitively nurtured Godolphin through much of the twentieth century.

The formal gardens, (Grade II Listed) were laid out at the end of the 16th Century to the east of the house within the medieval enclosure. Such a formal early garden scheme is unusual and significant both nationally and in a European context.

Given the significance of the garden, English Heritage is supporting a re-listing to Grade 1. They are divided into three with a forecourt and inner courtyard (both simple grass areas), the King’s Garden to the West planted with shrubs and perennials, a box hedge and grass lawns and to the east there are several squares in various cultivations. The King's Garden and the main garden area to the east of the house form a remarkable range of early garden features which are still intact because of neglect during subsequent centuries.

(Picture credit - NationalTrust/Graeme Norways)

Fiona Reynolds, the Trust's Director-General, described the importance of today’s acquisition, "Godolphin is an unrivalled treasure with a special atmosphere all of its own. The house, gardens and wider estate are a near-miraculous survival dating back over 600 years and together form one of Cornwall’s great gems. We are delighted to be able to re-unite the estate with the house and garden and to begin work on ensuring the continued future of this magnificent place".

The Trust is also launching a major fundraising appeal to help raise £500,000 for conservation and access work at Godolphin. The appeal will help fund a long term restoration programme for the property. It is hoped that volunteers and trainees will join in with the conservation work from an early stage.

Before Godolphin closes as usual this autumn, the Schofield family will continue to open the house and gardens to the public at a charge (including National Trust members, though at a discount) and to run events. The Schofields, who have been committed to passing the property to the National Trust since 1970, will be remaining at Godolphin for a transitional period.

From next year, the National Trust will open the gardens, run events and allow limited access to the interior of the house, restoration work permitting. The Trust's vision for the estate includes reuniting the estate with house and garden in recognition of its importance to the history of Cornish tin mining, increasing the amount of access to the property through longer, but less formal opening and show more of the house with enhanced interpretation.

The Godolphin's rose from the ranks of minor Cornish gentry to become figures of national prominence. They made a fortune from tin mining at Godolphin itself and grew as a result in royal favour. It was purchased by the Schofield family in the early 1930s.

Donations to the appeal can be made by calling 0870 458 4000, visiting www.nationaltrust.org.uk/donations, or posting a donation to The National Trust, Godolphin Appeal NT070028A8, Freepost NAT11386, Warrington WA5 7BR