About

Take a walk through history as you explore the ancestral home of the Earls of Mount Edgcumbe, perhaps dressed as a Tudor as you take advantage of our dressing up collection.

Decorated in a classical style and home to some of the treasures collected by the family over the centuries, the house is a haven of calm for visitors to explore the past.

The House was built between 1547 and 1550 to a revolutionary design for that period, built to look outwards for the views rather than be inward facing. Local Staddon Grit with its distinctive red colour was used for the walls whilst carved granite was used for the facings. The stylish ogival (curved to a point) leaded windows used throughout give the House a very distinctive look.

Mount Edgcumbe is home to many notable works of art by famous artists such as Sir Joshua Reynolds, Willem van de Velde and Gerard Edema. The property has been the inspiration for many stunning paintings.

Amongst the many highlights to be found on display in the House are: three large 16th century tapestries, two beautiful examples of Bouille furniture, a pair of extremely rare Irish Bronze Age horns, various clocks, sculptures, silverware and some examples of Plymouth Porcelain (manufactured by William Cookworthy. 

A garden that has expanded over hundreds of years but retained each generations work.

Mount Edgcumbes gardens are possibly unique in this. Explore the gardens moving through layers of gardening history from the 16th century to our modern Black Bee Reserve.

Through generations of the Edgcumbe family, and as their wealth increased, they added to the House and also created a landscaped park and new pleasure gardens. The area of these more formal gardens covers around 7 acres stretching from the lower park at Cremyll to the area of the Earls Garden which surrounds the House. 

Mount Edgcumbe Country Park covering over 865 acres was the earliest landscaped park in Cornwall.

Today it is made up of open parkland, Grade I listed gardens and 55 Grade II and II* listed structures.

Incorporating part of the South West Coastal Footpath, Mount Edgcumbe is the ideal destination to enjoy this beautiful part of Cornwall.

There are a number of trails for your to explore catering for all ages and all abilities.