Excursions in the County of Cornwall: Comprising a Concise Historical and Topographical Delineation of the Principal Towns and Villages, Together With Descriptions of the Residences of the Nobility and Gentry, Remains of Antiquity, and Every Other Interesting Object of CuriosityStockdale, Frederick Wilton Litchfield
History
Excursions in the County of Cornwall: Comprising a Concise Historical and Topographical Delineation of the Principal Towns and Villages, Together With Descriptions of the Residences of the Nobility and Gentry, Remains of Antiquity, and Every Other Interesting Object of Curiosity
Stockdale, Frederick Wilton Litchfield
Cornwall (England : County) -- Description and travel; Cornwall (England : County) -- History
The prospects from the summit of Kitt Hill on Hengeston Downs, near
Callington, are very extensive; comprehending the windings of the Tamar,
the Hamoaze, Plymouth Sound, Mount Edgecumbe, and surrounding country.
About five miles from Callington, in the parish of Calstock, is
_Cotehele_ or _Cuttayle House_, one of the most antient and curious
constructed mansions in England. It is situated on a pleasing eminence
on the western bank of the Tamar; but being almost surrounded with wood,
the river can only be seen from some of the windows of the higher
apartments. There is no account when this mansion was erected; but from
the style of architecture, is supposed to have been built about the time
of Henry VII. It is a very irregular pile of building, inclosing a small
quadrangle, the approach to which is through a square gateway tower on
the south side. At the north angle, is a large square tower, which
contains the principal apartments.
This place from the beauty of its situation and other local
circumstances, has excited great curiosity, and parties of pleasure make
frequent water excursions to it in the summer: boats for such purposes
are to be hired at Plymouth or Saltash.
The entrance hall opening from the quadrangle, is embellished with a
collection of antient armour, and warlike instruments; and gives a true
picture of the feudal dignity of antient times. The several apartments
in the house are enriched with a great variety of curious old articles
of furniture, such as carved ebony chairs, cabinets, &c. There is
besides, some very fine tapestry, ornamented with the figures of Romulus
and Remus, &c., in good preservation. The chapel connected with the
dining room is small, and was originally ornamented with painted glass
windows. The altar cloth, composed of rich velvet embroidered, is
ornamented with the figures of the Twelve Apostles, and other
appropriate embellishments.
This mansion has belonged to the Edgecumbe family since the reign of
Edward III.; and here Sir Richard Edgecumbe, who was attached to the
House of Lancaster, concealed himself from the tyranny of Richard III.
In remembrance of his miraculous escape, he erected the small chapel
which stands on a rocky precipice, close to the river.
In the month of August, 1789, their late Majesties, with the Princess
Royal and the Princesses Augusta and Elizabeth, honoured this old
mansion with a visit, and breakfasted with the Earl and Countess of
Mount Edgecumbe.
_Calstock Church_ stands about half a mile from the village, on a
commanding eminence, and is a small antient fabric, containing several
memorials of the Edgecumbes.
About a mile from the church, is _Harewood House_, the seat of Salisbury
Trelawney, Esq. It is a handsome building, erected on one of the most
delightful spots of the banks of the Tamar. Mason in his poem of
Elfrida, has made Harewood the scene of the loves of Ethelwold, and of
the misfortunes consequent to his union with the fair daughter of Edgar.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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