Lanhydrock House

                                                                              

Explored the Agar-Robartes family Lanhydrock house and gardens recently. Beautiful! It is a "house," but it looks like a castle to me. Having 50 rooms to look through takes some time...and there's so much information to read! No way to absorb it all in one go. The stewards have all this information plus details I can't find on the internet on the tip of their tongues. You need not ask either, just an interested glance in their direction and they're telling you all about it before you can even register that, yes, they are in fact talking to you. Incredible. What's more is these enthusiastic people are volunteers. Very coveted volunteer positions is what I'm told - people have to fight to get in.
I won't recount their entire family history (couldn't even if I wanted to), but I will share some bits I found interesting.

The whole family story is kinda sad toward the end.
In 1881 there was a fire started in the kitchen that destroyed much of the house they had just redone. Lady Robartes, age 68, got trapped in her room and was rescued via ladder. The farmer's boy is credited with saving her, though no one has been able to prove it for sure. She died a few days later, however, due to shock. Lord Robartes, having difficulties recovering from the fire and death of his wife, died a year later, leaving the refurbishing of the house to his eldest son, Thomas Charles Robartes. So the Victorian style home we saw was what was done by him.
Thomas and his wife, Mary, had 10 children. That's right, 10! Holy shit that's a lot. Sadly, one of them only made it to 6 months. They didn't tell us that at the house though, I just read it online.
His eldest son and heir, Tommy, never did get to inherit the house because he died in the war. What they don't really talk about much, the sweet lady in the on-site used bookstore explained to us, is that two other sons were in the war as well. One of whom died and the other, the youngest of them all, committed suicide after returning.
It was he that kinda interested me most. They say he was called "the baby" until the age of 6 and was the most sensitive of the boys. A poet. Seemed too appropriate as the runt thought of and referred to as the baby. Made me wonder which influenced which.
Anyway, because of the war taking the men away, only one of the daughters ended up marrying. The second eldest daughter was most driven to help people and became a nurse. She was also the most independent, they said, being the first of the family to drive a car herself.   
I'm still not clear on how many of their children were sons and how many daughters. They don't really go into detail about the youngest ones. Only the first and second born of each. So weird. Kind of sad, I would have liked that info to be available. But I know if I go back all I need to do is ask one of the stewards and they could probably give me all of that info.

Grounds at the front of the house.

 

There were visitors sitting and rolling all over the grass. It was wonderful!

These wooden trains were placed all around the house and moved regularly. They were for the kids to find - something to keep them occupied.

Massive billiards table inside the billiards room...go figure.

Tommy's room with the suitcase he took to war. Mark and I loved the painting of the "girl with a violin" above the fireplace. Apparently it was Tommy's favorite.

In the nursery was the most beautiful piano. If I could have taken anything from the house to keep for myself, this would have been my pick.

Bells all over the house to summon servants.

A beautiful screen. I just love it!

Attached to the kids/baby's bedroom...But I'm not sure who slept here. I'd assume one of the older daughters. I loved the furniture. It looks like it might have been from Asia.

See anyone familiar in the mirror?

Bell in the school room...I really hope this is the original one they used. It's awesome! We were told that the house has been kept as close to it's original state as possible, but you never know for sure.

Ah! I just love old suitcases!

Pretty table in the storage room of all places.

The rest of the storage room.

Hey!

The Lord's room...He did not share a bedroom or bathroom with his wife. They'd just periodically get together in her bed...We know it happened at least 10 times!

 Can you see the faces? We have no idea what these symbolize. Would have asked had a steward been in that room. Note to self: look that shit up!

Tapestry covering the walls. They have all different classes of people represented here. My favorite bit is the high five. See it?

 Tapestry close up. Why didn't I get the high five?!

 The Bible is depicted on the entire ceiling in the "library" that was more or less an everything room. Games, reading, social gatherings area. 

 Here you have Cain and Abel battling it out.

I read online that there's only one living relative left and they live in a cottage somewhere on the property, but I'm not sure if that's still true or not.

We went back yesterday to explore their gardens. Didn't have time first trip. I'll post those pics later.

At the moment I type this from inside the VW (converted into) camper van we just purchased Wednesday. We'll be doing our WWOOFing travels in this old granny. I love her! Pictures on the way! Stay tuned...