Heligan estate
Encyclopedia
The Heligan estate was the ancestral home of the Tremayne family, near Mevagissey
in Cornwall. The family also held property at Sydenham near Marystow
in Devon.
Heligan (meaning "willows" in Cornish
) is first recorded in the twelfth century. The estate was bought by Sampson Tremayne in 1659. Heligan House was built by William Tremayne in 1603 in Jacobean style
, although of that house only the basement remains. The house was substantially rebuilt in 1692 by Sir John Tremayne
(1647–1694) in William and Mary
style, and extended in 1810 and 1830. Unusually for Cornwall the house is built of brick.
The members of the family who developed the garden were:
The estate was let out after the First World War. The house was divided into flats and sold in the 1970s. The garden remained in the ownership of the Tremayne family, but was not maintained. It was rediscovered and rescued in a televised project in 1996. The Lost Gardens of Heligan
are now a major visitor attraction.
Mevagissey
Mevagissey is a village, fishing port and civil parish in Cornwall, United Kingdom. The village is situated approximately five miles south of St Austell....
in Cornwall. The family also held property at Sydenham near Marystow
Marystow
Marystow or Stow-St. Mary was a village and parish in the Tavistock district of Devon....
in Devon.
Heligan (meaning "willows" in Cornish
Cornish language
Cornish is a Brythonic Celtic language and a recognised minority language of the United Kingdom. Along with Welsh and Breton, it is directly descended from the ancient British language spoken throughout much of Britain before the English language came to dominate...
) is first recorded in the twelfth century. The estate was bought by Sampson Tremayne in 1659. Heligan House was built by William Tremayne in 1603 in Jacobean style
Jacobean architecture
The Jacobean style is the second phase of Renaissance architecture in England, following the Elizabethan style. It is named after King James I of England, with whose reign it is associated.-Characteristics:...
, although of that house only the basement remains. The house was substantially rebuilt in 1692 by Sir John Tremayne
John Tremayne (1647–1694)
Sir John Tremayne SL was an English lawyer and politician. He became a Serjeant-at-Law and King's Serjeant in 1689, acting as counsel during a number of cases before the House of Lords...
(1647–1694) in William and Mary
William and Mary
The phrase William and Mary usually refers to the coregency over the Kingdoms of England, Scotland and Ireland, of King William III & II and Queen Mary II...
style, and extended in 1810 and 1830. Unusually for Cornwall the house is built of brick.
The members of the family who developed the garden were:
- Rev. Henry Hawkins TremayneHenry Hawkins TremayneThe Reverend Henry Hawkins Tremayne was a member of a landed family in the English county of Cornwall, and owner of the Heligan estate near Mevagissey, with significant interests in the Cornish tin mining industry...
(1741–1829) - John Hearle TremayneJohn Hearle TremayneJohn Hearle Tremayne was a member of a landed family in the English county of Cornwall, and owner of the Heligan estate near Mevagissey. He was a member of the UK Parliament for the constituency of Cornwall, a Justice of the peace, and High Sheriff of Cornwall in 1831...
(1780–1851), son of Henry Hawkins Tremayne - John Tremayne (1825–1901), son of John Hearle Tremayne
- John Claude Lewis Tremayne (1869–1949), son of John Tremayne and better known as "Jack"
The estate was let out after the First World War. The house was divided into flats and sold in the 1970s. The garden remained in the ownership of the Tremayne family, but was not maintained. It was rediscovered and rescued in a televised project in 1996. The Lost Gardens of Heligan
Lost Gardens of Heligan
The Lost Gardens of Heligan, near Mevagissey in Cornwall, are one of the most popular botanical gardens in the UK. The style of the gardens is typical of the nineteenth century Gardenesque style, with areas of different character and in different design styles.The gardens were created by members of...
are now a major visitor attraction.