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Godolphin House

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Godolphin Hall; Cairdine Castle; Godolgan

In the civil parish of Breage. In the historic county of Cornwall (Modern Authority of Cornwall, 1974 county of Cornwall).

This site has been described as a;
Fortified Manor House.
  Confidence: It is doubtful that this site was a medieval fortification or palace.   Masonry ruins/remnants remains.
Country house, built as a courtyard house in the late C15 and extended considerably in C16. It was further extended in the mid C17 and has some C18 alterations. The house was reduced in size and converted into a farmhouse. Apart from C20 renovations it has been little altered since the early C19. Adjoining the house are C17 or possibly late C16 cobbled pavements and stabling including a fodder store. The forecourt walls and mounting block are C17. (PastScape)
The house was much reduced to open the house up from a courtyard house and this has destroyed some towers and some other elements of the earlier house have been refaced. 'The return and back walls within the colonnade are probably a C16 refacing of earlier semi-defensive work.' (Images of England). Called a mansion by Leland. There was an earlier house on the site.
It is probable the earlier house and the initial house of of the Godolphin had some domestic defensive elements, which have mainly been removed, although decorative crenellations remain. It is a matter of opinion and discussion as to if these meant this house was fortified.
This is a Grade 1 listed building protected by law*. (Images of England number 65746)

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SW60103184

Air Photo from multimap logo

Air Photo and general mapping

1st edition OS Map from old maps logo

Mid to late 19th century maps

Modern Map from Ordnance Survey logo

Landscape form and features

Modern Map from streetmap logo

General location and route planning

Geograph British Isles geography.org.uk logo
occasionally has photos of the site and will usually give an idea of the surrounding landscape.

Sources of information, references and further reading

This site's English Heritage (PastScape) Defra or Monument number is 425981
Further information may be available from the holder of the county Historic Environment Record. In particular 'grey' literature, such as watching brief reports, held by H.E.R.s is often poorly referenced and is unlikely to be recorded in this website, or elsewhere.

Most of the sites or buildings recorded in this web site are NOT open to the public and permission to visit a site must always be sought from the landowner or tenant.
The information on this web page may be derived from information compiled by and/or copyright of English Heritage and other individuals and organisations. All the sources given should be consulted to identify the original copyright holder and permission obtained from them before use of the information on this site for commercial purposes. I do not receive any income from this site and I fund it myself.
The bibliography owes much to various bibliographies produced by John Kenyon for the Council for British Archaeology, the Castle Studies Group and others.
It is an offence to disturb a Scheduled Monument without consent. It is a destruction of everyone's heritage to remove archaeological evidence from any site without proper recording and reporting. Don't use metal detectors on historic sites without authorisation.
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*The listed building may not be the actual medieval building, but a building on the site of, or incorporating fragments of, the described site.

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This record last updated on Wednesday, October 28, 2009

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