House & Family History: Godolphin is of gray granite with the prominent north range featuring a fine colonnade of six Doric columns. The House today is but a remnant of a far larger building that was the home of the Godolphin family until the middle of the 18th century. The Godolphins, who made their wealth from the local tin mining industry, were one of the leading families of west Cornwall. Noted members included Sidney, the poet killed during the Civil War, and another Sidney, the 1st Earl of Godolphin, who was lord high treasurer to Queen Anne. The 1st Earl spent little time at Godolphin House and the 2nd Earl even less. On the death of the 2nd Earl in 1766, the Estate passed through his daughter to the dukes of Leeds. In 1805 a considerable part of the House was demolished, including the 16th century hall, and Godolphin became a farmhouse. The 11th Duke of Leeds sold the house in 1929; it subsequently acquired by Sydney Schofield in 1937 for £12,000. The National Trust acquired the Estate of 555 acres in 2000 for £1 million, with the House remaining in the ownership of the Schofield family. In 2003 Godolphin House received a grant of £879,000 from English Heritage to repair the fabric of the House, the largest single grant ever made by English Heritage. In August 2007 the House and gardens were sold by the Schofield family to the National Trust for an undisclosed amount, with the Trust launching an appeal to raise £500,000 to help maintain and complete the restoration of the House (including the north façade). The House was independently valued at £2 million to £2.5 million, with the Trust indicating that the purchase, renovations, and an endowment would amount to about £6 million. Two holiday apartments were created and rented to help pay the £100,000 annual maintenance bills.

Garden & Outbuildings: Godolphin House has extensive farm buildings and its original Elizabethan stables. The remains of the old formal gardens can be seen on the north and east facades of the House.

Country Life: XXXVIII, 868, 1915.

House Listed: Grade I

Park Listed: Not Listed

Past Seat / Home of: Francis Godolphin, 2nd Earl of Godolphin, until 1766. Thomas Osborne, 4th Duke of Leeds, 18th century; Osborne family here until 1929. Schofield family, 1936-2007.

Current Ownership Type: The National Trust

Primary Current Ownership Use: Visitor Attraction

Ownership Details: Purchased by the National Trust in 2007; the House can be booked for holidays.

House Open to Public: Yes

Phone: 01736-763-194

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Historic Houses Member: No