Boconnoc

The following is from the Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest. For the most up-to-date Register entry, please visit The National Heritage List for England (NHLE):

Parkland of 17th century origin with late 18th century landscape features and early 19th century picturesque improvements, together with 19th century gardens and pleasure grounds.

Location, Area, Boundaries, Landform and Setting

Boconnoc is situated roughly 4km east of Lostwithiel to the south of the A390. The approximately 350ha site comprises in the region of 10ha of gardens and pleasure grounds and 340ha of parkland, ornamental plantations, picturesque walks and rides. To the north, south-east, north-east, and west the site adjoins agricultural land, while to the south-west and south the site is bounded by a minor road which leads east from the A390 road to Couch's Mill. A further minor road leading north from Lerryn to East Taphouse forms the eastern boundary of the site.

A minor road running south from West Taphouse and Braddock passes through the site around 2km east of the house. The ground is undulating, with the River Lerryn flowing south through a valley immediately west of the house. A tributary stream flows east through another valley, and has its confluence with the River Lerryn roughly 190m north-west of the house. The ground rises to the west and north-east, allowing wide views across the park and surrounding country.

Entrances and Approaches

The modern approach to Boconnoc is from the minor road leading south from West Taphouse at a point approximately 320m south-east of Braddock church. The entrance from this road is marked by Horsepool Lodge, a mid 19th century stone structure standing to the south of the drive which leads roughly 500m west-south-west along the southern edge of Braddockpark Wood, to join the axial north-west drive nearly 2km north-east of the house.

Turning sharply south-west the drive continues on a straight course aligned on the late 18th century obelisk around 1.1km north-east of the house; the drive is flanked by wide grass verges and passes through mixed plantations with evergreen underplanting.

Ascending a slight incline to approach the obelisk, the drive passes between a pair of rusticated and pedimented stone classical shrines (listed grade II); constructed in about 1771 by Thomas Pitt, first Lord Camelford the shrines form a group with the obelisk. Placed on an axis with the drive, the obelisk (listed grade II) stands on an approximately square level platform, the corners of which are marked by mature specimen Scots pines. A slate inscription panel is set into the north-east face of the obelisk's pedestal recording that it was erected 'In gratitude and affection to the Memory of Sir Richard Lyttleton'. The obelisk was constructed in 1771 for Thomas Pitt, Lord Camelford, presumably to his own design, and was repaired by Sir John Soane after a lightning strike in 1787 (Pevsner 1974); the platform upon which it stands is said to have originated as a mid 17th century battery (listed building description; OS).

Adjacent to the obelisk the drive sweeps south-south-west and south-west for roughly 320m, dropping through further mixed plantations and shrubbery to enter the park adjacent to Lawn Lodge, a mid 19th-century picturesque gabled structure approximately 720m north-east of the house. Beyond Lawn Lodge, the drive follows a straight course around 550m south-west through the park, dropping gently towards the house and parish church. Some 130m east of the house the drive divides, with one branch ascending north-west to the 18th and 19th century stable court (listed grade II) and another sweeping south-east, south, and south-west through the park below the house to form a southern approach.

The principal drive continues west, passing through an early 19th century white-painted timber gate flanked by mature specimen rhododendrons to enter the pleasure grounds east of the house. The gravel drive divides areas of lawn, that to the north being bounded by a steep rocky slope planted with ornamental shrubs, immediately below the 14th century parish church (listed grade I). There is a gravelled carriage turn immediately below the eastern side of the house. The north-east drive, leading from the house to an entrance immediately south of Braddock church, was developed in the late 18th-century by Thomas Pitt, first Lord Camelford.

A complex network of drives extends throughout the site, with entrances giving access from public roads to the west, south-west, south, and east. A further principal drive approaches the house from the minor road forming the south-west boundary of the site. A simple tall timber gate set in a stone boundary wall gives access to a drive which leads approxmiately 80m east through the deer park to join a further drive (now a track) which leads south-east through Westparks Wood.

The point at which this drive enters the deer park is marked by Park Lodge, a mid19th century gabled stone structure which stands to the north-east of a gate supported by granite piers set in a 19th century wrought-iron deer fence. The south-west drive continues to descend gently for around 600m south-east through a picturesque valley within the deer park planted with beech and clumps of pines to reach a junction with the south drive which leads to an entrance and early 19th century lodge at Couch's Mill.

The late 19th century or early 20th century Taley Lodge, a two-storey stone and half-timbered structure stands in large lawned gardens to the south-west of a pair of 19th century rusticated stone gate piers with flat caps which mark the start of the south drive. South of Taley Lodge the south drive runs parallel and to the west of the River Lerryn, which here flows through a picturesque wooded valley. The drive passes picturesque features including a granite drinking trough fed by a small cascade, to reach, after around 500m, Millcombe Bridge (listed grade II), a late 18th century triple-arched granite bridge which carries the drive to the east bank of the river.

To the north of Taley Lodge, the south-west drive extends north along the west bank of the lake and the River Lerryn for nearly 320m before turning north-east to cross the river on a single-arched late 18th century stone bridge with a parapet ornamented with quartz rubble. From the bridge there are views north along the picturesquely wooded valley of the Lerryn, and south to The Lake; to the north-east the house is visible above a south-facing slope. Beyond the bridge the drive divides, one branch leading north along the Lerryn valley to reach the Stewardry north of the house, the other, principal branch sweeping east and north to join the north-east drive east of the house.

The complex system of drives was developed in the late 18th and early 19th-centuries by the first and second Lords Camelford. The south and south-west drives with their exploitation of picturesque scenery and features in the Lerryn valley and the deer park are typical of developments made by the second Lord Camelford and Lord Grenville in the early 19th century. The 18th and 19th century drives appear to have replaced a formal approach aligned on the eastern side of the house (Mr Fortescue pers comm, 2000); the line of this approach was partly replanted in the 20th century as an avenue.

Principal Building

Boconnoc House (listed grade II*) stands on an artificially levelled terrace cut into a south- and west-facing slope above the River Lerryn towards the centre of the site. Constructed in rubble stone under slate, partly Mansard roofs, and comprising two storeys with attics lit by dormer windows, the house was formerly L-shaped on plan with a long south wing extending west of the entrance or east wing. The south wing, which contained a gallery constructed by Thomas Pitt, Lord Camelford in 1772, was reduced in 1971, leaving the house approximately I-shaped on plan.

The entrance or east side is nearly symmetrical, with an off-centre doorcase, while to north and south it breaks forward in a pair of bays which are treated identically, with ground-floor tripartite sash windows below first-floor Venetian windows. To the north, and slightly set back, is a three-storey tower which forms the east end of a 19th century north wing; this was reduced in height from four storeys in the 20th century. The west face which overlooks a gravelled yard is irregular with a projecting central section. To the south is a single-storey range and a 20th century screen wall which form remnants of the demolished late 18th century gallery wing.

The house assumed its present form in approximately 1719 when the 16th or 17th century house built by the Mohun family was extended for Thomas Pitt, former Governor of Madras. The south wing was extended westwards in 1772 by Thomas Pitt, first Lord Camelford, working in association with Charles Rawlinson of Lostwithiel. Sir John Soane undertook repairs and improvements to the house in the late 18th century (Stroud 1961), and an early 19th century engraving shows a north-east wing extending further east than is the case today (Gilbert 1820). Following requisition of the house during the Second World War, serious structural problems became evident in the south wing, which was reduced in 1971-2, since when the house has remained unoccupied. At the start of the 21st century, a major programme of restoration was planned.

Gardens and Pleasure Grounds

The pleasure grounds are situated to the south and east of the house, with further areas on the higher ground to the north-east, north, and on the west-facing slope of the Lerryn valley to the north-west.

To the east of the house is an area of lawn flanking the drive. Stone steps ascend the rocky south-facing bank to the north of the lawn giving access to the parish church. To the north-east of the house and to the north of the carriage turn is a 19th century circular stone-kerbed pool which contains a two-tier, cast-iron fountain. A gravel terrace walk returns below the south face of the house and is retained by a low drystone wall. At the western end of the south wing, on the site of the demolished late 18th-century gallery, is a partly paved garden and a south-facing loggia, all enclosed behind low stone walls.

Below the gravel terrace a grass terrace extends approximately 50m east beyond the house to be terminated by a double-sided ornamental granite bench seat which is backed by a group of trees. There are extensive views from the terrace and lawns south across the park to The Lake. The grass terrace is retained by a low stone wall, and from it stone steps flanked by low square-section stone piers descend to an area of south-facing sloping lawns planted with groups of rhododendrons and other shrubs. The lawns descend to a 19th century metal estate fence separating the pleasure grounds from the park.

Some 130m north-east of the house is an approximately triangular-shaped area of pleasure grounds enclosed on each side by stone walls or Cornish hedges which separate the garden from service or secondary drives. Entered through a 19th or early 20th century ornamental wrought-iron gate, the garden comprises an area of south-facing sloping lawn planted with specimen trees, shrubs, and conifers. A mown grass walk leads some 80m north to a low flight of stone steps which ascends to a level terrace which is similarly planted with mature specimen trees and shrubs arranged around a circular stone-kerbed pool which contains a two-tier stone fountain.

To the north, a rendered brick wall with a central recess aligned with the fountain and steps marks the site of a 19th century conservatory; a brick lean-to shed survives against the rear face of the wall. To the north of the site of the conservatory the ground slopes up to a leat, which forms the northern boundary of the garden. To the north-east a flight of stone steps flanked by quartz-rubble walls ascends to a 19th century or early 20th century wrought-iron gate leading to a drive which leads north from the stables to Nenawicket. This garden, known as the Dorothy Garden, was developed by the Fortescue family from the mid 19th-century.

Beyond the drive is a further area of lawns planted with specimen trees and groups of ornamental shrubs; to the west is a late 20th century pond of informal outline. Some 80m north the pleasure grounds are separated from parkland by a 19th century metal estate fence which allows views north up the Lerryn valley. A ride lined by mature limes and groups of rhododendrons leads north-north-east parallel to the park boundary, joining further rides which lead north through Brownshill Wood.

To the north-west of the 20th century pond a mown grass path descends the north-west-facing slope through a belt of mature pines and specimen shrubs to reach a drive, a continuation of the south drive, roughly 320m north of the house, adjacent to the entrance to the Stewardry. This late 18th/19th century two-storey stone house stands in 19th and 20th century informal gardens and pleasure grounds comprising lawns planted with specimen trees and groups of ornamental shrubs. To the north of the Stewardry the drive continues to join the network of drives and rides in Brownshill Wood, while to the south it forms the boundary between the pleasure grounds and parkland west of the house, from which it is separated by 19th century metal estate fencing; there are picturesque views across the Lerryn valley, and west to Colliershill Wood.

Above, and parallel to the drive, a gravel terrace walk extends south from the Stewardry through deciduous woodland underplanted with ornamental shrubs. Some 130m north-west of the house the terrace walk reaches a former quarry with a cascade descending the rock face to the east and an early 19th century classical stone bath standing towards the centre of a level area which has been planted with specimen Chusan palms and moisture-loving plants. Below and to the west of the terrace, the stream forms an informal cascade, while a clearing planted with azaleas allows views across the Lerryn valley.

Some 50m south of the quarry garden, a flight of rustic stone steps ascends south-east to reach an early 19th century bath house and bathing pool (listed grade II) approximately 50m north-west of the house. The bath house and pool are enclosed within a rectangular enclosure formed by rubble-stone walls roughly 3m high, with an entrance in the south-east corner formed by a re-set gothic arch and timber door. The pool (dry, 2000) is rectangular on plan and lined with ashlar granite blocks, and is surrounded by a paved walk and narrow borders planted with camellias and rhododendrons. To the west a stone lion's-mask fountain to feed the pool is set on a curved pediment, while to the east the bathing house comprises a stone, square-plan structure under a pyramid slate roof. A door on the west face leads directly to the pool, while further doors in the north and south facades lead to the perimeter walk; a flight of stone steps descends into the pool at its north-east corner. The terrace walk, quarry garden, and bath form part of the early 19th century pleasure grounds developed by the second Lord Camelford in the Picturesque taste.

There are further detached pleasure grounds to the west and east of the house. To the west a tributary stream of the River Lerryn flows east through a valley which contains a series of early 19th century picturesque incidents. A carriage drive runs parallel and to the north-east of the stream, below the steep south-west-facing slope of Colliershill Wood. Some 270m north-west of the house the rim of a former quarry is planted with evergreen shrubs, while to the west rustic stone steps ascend to a series of rocky walks on the hillside above the drive. Adjacent to the mound is the entrance to a disused mine, and a rocky cascade. A walk to the south of the stream is carried above the mine entrance on a simple, single-arched stone bridge. The cross, bridge, and cascade form a picturesque group when seen from the carriage drive to the north of the stream.

A walk ascends south-west through the woodland on the east-facing slope of the valley, from a point around 220m west-north-west of the house. The walk passes a simple granite bench seat positioned at the base of a veteran beech, the roots of which are deliberately exposed. This seat would have afforded views north-east across the valley to the quarry garden in the pleasure grounds; these are now obscured. At the summit of the hill, adjacent to the boundary of the plantation and the north-west park, the walk reaches the 'Bastion' or 'Cock Pit', an approximately circular feature comprising a central circular area retained by a stone wall and surrounded by a ditch which appears to join further ditches extending north-west and south-east. The area is planted with mature sycamore and beech, and projects south into the park, allowing views towards the deer park.

To the north-east an artificially levelled platform is planted with hollies and supports a simple early 19th century granite bench seat; views from this seat would have extended up the Lerryn valley, but are now obscured by tree-growth. The 'Bastion' or 'Cock Pit' is said to be derived from a Civil War battery (Mr Fortescue pers comm, 2000). These picturesque features form part of the early 19th century improvements undertaken by the second Lord Camelford and completed under Lord and Lady Grenville.

Some 670m east of the house, and approached by a ride leading south from the north-east drive, the Pinetum comprises an area of mature conifers underplanted with groups of ornamental shrubs and interspersed with young specimen conifers. This area was developed by Lord and Lady Grenville (Pett 1998) in the early and mid 19th century, and reflects similar developments at their other seat, Dropmore, Buckinghamshire (qv).

Park

The park comprises four areas of open ground to the west, south, east, and north-east of the house, which are divided by ornamental plantations. The park to the south and east of the house is in mixed use, with the south-facing slope below the house being in arable cultivation with scattered specimen trees, the west-facing slopes to the east remaining pasture with scattered trees. Towards the summit of the west-facing slope some 550m south-east of the house, a low granite column stands within a 19th century metal-fenced enclosure planted with specimen trees, yew, and other shrubs; the monument commemorates the burial of the Duke of Wellington in 1852 (inscription).

In the valley roughly 430m south of the house, the River Lerryn is dammed to form a lake of irregular outline with an island near its eastern bank. Constructed in the mid 19th century, The Lake became heavily silted in the 20th century and is now subject to a programme of renovation. To the south-east of The Lake, Penrose Wood rises on a north-west-facing slope, joining ornamental trees around the Wellington monument and the Pinetum to the east of the house to form a visual boundary to the south and east of the park. The park to the south and east of the house comprises the area known in the early 19th century as the 'lawn' (Gilbert 1820), and formed part of landscape developed by the first and second Lords Camelford in the late 18th and early 19th centuries and completed by Lord Grenville after 1804.

The park to the west of the house comprises the valley of the River Lerryn which flows from north to south, and a further area of higher ground to the west separated from the river valley by woodland on the east-facing slope above the river. The river valley remains pasture; a veteran oak pollard is preserved as a picturesque feature in the open valley, standing a mound approximately 200m north-west of the house. The valley is enclosed to the west by the east-facing slope of Colliershill Wood, to the north by Brownshill Wood, and to the east by the west-facing slope of the wooded pleasure grounds; to the south the vista through the valley is terminated by the late 18th century stone bridge carrying the south drive across the River Lerryn. Colliershill Wood and its extension to the south are enclosed by 19th century metal estate fencing and deer fences, together with a substantial ditch and mound which runs within the margin of the plantation. The park in the Lerryn valley forms part of the picturesque landscape developed by the second Lord Camelford in the early 19th century.

The park on the higher ground to the west of the Lerryn valley is in arable cultivation (2000). A finger of down-like land which extends for around 1km from south-east to north-west is bounded to the south-west by Westpark Wood, and to the north-west by Roughparks Plantation. To the north-east the ground drops into the wooded valley of a tributary stream of the Lerryn. The park drops gently to the north-east, revealing views across the site towards the obelisk and woodland north-east of the house. The north-west park forms part of the late 18th and early 19th-centuries landscape developed by the first and second Lords Camelford, and was used as an addition to the deer park to the south; remnants of 19th century deer fences survive on the north-east boundary of the park.

To the south-east, and separated from the west park by the shallow valley through which the south-west drive passes, the deer park remains pasture with scattered specimen trees and pines. To the south the park is bounded by Heronshill Plantation, and to the east by Heronshill Wood, which drops into the Lerryn valley. Some 830m south-west of the house a cricket ground is situated on a bluff of high ground with views north-east across the south park. The cricket ground was established in 1846 (Records of Boconnoc Cricket Club). A deer park is first recorded at Boconnoc in 1435 (Pett 1998); a park is marked on Saxton's Map of Cornwall (1576), and by 1583 it was a mile in circumference (Shirley 1867). In the late 18th or early 19th century, the park included land to the north of the south-west drive which today forms part of the west park. The present park retains a deer herd.

Kitchen Gardens

The kitchen garden was situated at the Home Farm roughly 700m east of the house and immediately outside the park. Sections of early 19th century buttressed brick walls nearly 3m high survive, but the site of the kitchen garden is developed with late 20th century farm buildings and a concrete yard. The site of the kitchen garden lies outside the site here registered.

Other Land

To the north-east of the park is an extensive area of mixed ornamental plantations, through which the north-east drive passes; this area was developed in the late 18th-century as a setting for the drive and the first Lord Camelford's obelisk (1771). To the east of this woodland, and to the east of the minor road which passes through the site south-east of Braddock, agricultural enclosures are interspersed by five mixed, irregularly shaped plantations. This area is enclosed to the east and south by a continuous belt of mixed plantations comprising Braddockround Plantation, Withy Piece Plantation, and Clowne Plantation. The woodland planting to the east of Obelisk Plantation forms part of the early and mid 19th century picturesque landscape developed by the second Lord Camelford and continued under Lord and Lady Grenville.

Maps

• Map of Boconnoc and area, C16 (DDF/Ad 644), (Cornwall Record Office)
• S Saxton, Map of Cornwall, 1576
• Plan of Boconock Barton, Property of Tho Pitt, Esq, nd (?C18), (private collection)
• Tracings of plans of the Boconnoc estate, 1811(20 (DDF/327), (Cornwall Record Office)
• Draft enclosure plan for Boconnoc, c 1821 (DDF/326), (Cornwall Record Office)
• OS 6" to 1 mile: 1st edition surveyed 1880
• 2nd edition revised 1905, published 1908

Illustrations

• Engraved view of Boconnoc from the south-east, c 1820 (published in Gilbert 1820, p 910)

Archival items

• Pitt and Fortescue family papers, C18-C19, including accounts (DDF), (Cornwall Record Office)
• Garden accounts, 1771-1773 (DDF/188), (Cornwall Record Office)
• Sir John Soane, Fragment of plan for triumphal arch proposed as entrance to the park at Boconnoc, c 1780 (Sir John Soane Museum, London)
• Abstract of garden account, 1810 (DDF/196), (Cornwall Record Office)
• Records of Boconnoc Cricket Club (DDF(4)/78/2), (Cornwall Record Office)

Description written: February 2001

Edited: October 2001, September 2022