Antony: House History and Designed Landscapes

Antony appeals to travellers interested in architectural history and designed landscapes. Antony House retains a well-preserved early 18th-century character; the Antony landscape ranges from formal garden spaces to parkland and woodland. There are also viewpoints overlooking the river and distinctive features such as a historic dovecote.

Antony House: Interiors and History

Inside, the hall and principal ground-floor rooms are panelled in oak. The collections include 18th-century furniture and tapestries, miniatures from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as well as family portraits and mementoes. Ceramics from the 18th and 19th centuries from the J. P. Morgan collection are also part of the furnishings. The house thus brings together different periods and types of collection, from tapestries to small-scale miniatures.

The history of the house and landscape can also be traced through specific milestones. In 1718, master mason John Moyle agreed to build the shell of Antony House. The land on which the house stands has been owned by the Carew family since the 15th century. In 1792, Humphry Repton was commissioned to prepare a landscape design for Antony. While Moyle’s agreement concerned the building shell, Repton’s commission was for the design of the landscape.

Gardens, Parkland and Views

The registered landscape comprises about 30 hectares of gardens and pleasure grounds, as well as about 100 hectares of parkland and woodland. Parkland and woodland therefore make up the larger area. The design includes formal terraces and lawns beside the house, as well as informal pleasure grounds and woodland gardens. This contrast between clearly ordered garden spaces and more informal areas shapes the character of the landscape.

The formal garden includes topiary and modern sculptures; it also has a historic collection of daylilies. Antony Woodland Garden runs along the edge of the Lynher Estuary and is recognised as an International Camellia Garden of Excellence. Its river views along the Lynher offer opportunities to spot herons, cormorants, shelducks, and oystercatchers. Garden art and wildlife watching are different aspects of the landscape here.

Further views can be enjoyed from riverside paths and higher ground such as Jupiter Point. From there, the view across the river takes in the keep of Trematon Castle and Ince Castle. This is a different perspective from the river views along the Lynher in Antony Woodland Garden: here, the two named castles are the prominent landmarks across the water.

Individual Structures and Activities

The round stone dovecote at Antony dates from the early 18th century and is listed Grade II*. It was once used to supply the kitchen and decorate the garden. The building thus combines a practical historic use with its role as part of the garden design.

Documented activities also include a nature-based play area with branches and collected natural materials for building dens. There is also a storytelling area. Both features offer a different focus from house history and garden architecture: here, the emphasis is on natural materials and a storytelling activity.

Practical Information

The main Antony House car park is 250 yards from the Welcome Point.

Discover more destinations: Bodmin, Constantine, Saint Tudy, Carlyon Bay, Stratton, Boswinger, Ruan High Lanes, Cawsand.

For the wider travel guide: Cornwall.