trevarno timeline
house, courtyard
- Earliest reference to the house was 1296 (under the ownership of Randolphus De Trevarno) This family seem to have been in the Roseland area and sold land there in 1249. They were minor gentry or professional men.
- The present House was built on the site of the original manor and may incorporate parts of another building erected in 1574.
- Christopher Wallis Popham is said to have extended the house in 1838, aftyer extending the estate.
- William Bickford-Smith built the billiard room, and library, extended the stable block and the walled garden area. Date was around 1874, just after he bought the property. The library was renowned in the area as being one of the most extensive and of great literary quality and in 1883 was said to contain more than 7,000 books, many first editions. It is believed that at this time there were 46 rooms.
- In 1980, the house was found to have dry rot and the house was reduced in size. Most of the building over what is now the courtyard was removed as was the top layer of the house by Peter Bickford-Smith who had inherited the property in 1975.
- The portico on the south front of the house was demolished. It formed the main entrance of the stable yard. The 2 round pillars are still waiting to be used and are situated by the red lion steps.
- The Fountain Garden Conservatory used to be the east wing containing the billiard room. It was turned into a garden area and then a covered area.
italian garden
- In 1841 the 1st edition OS map shows the Italian Garden as a woodland area.
- By 1877 the map shows an area cleared to form a lawn, enclosed by woodland.
- In 1980 the outline of the Italian Garden is shown on the map as being enclosed around its boundaries by woody planting. A fountain is marked in the middle of the area. William Bickford-Smith must have created it.
- In 1960, Mrs Bickford-Smith altered the Italian Garden. She removed all the formal rose beds, made a hole in the beech hedge at the far end. She put down the paving, the paths and the statues.
- A fountain, found in the bushes in another part of the garden was also installed.
- In 1986 the hole in the beech hedge was blocked. The paving slabs and a gravel path to the fountain were put down.
the bluebell wood
- The aim in this area is to conserve the woods but also to diversify the age structure of the woods.
- Conserve the bluebells.
- Between mid- April and mid-May, these woods are a mass of English Bluebells.
the bog garden
- Mr and Mrs Michael Bickford-Smith started to plant the bog garden. These were the parents of Peter.
the lake
- A pond was first shown on the 1841 Tithe map.
- It is reputed to have been built by Christopher Wallis Popham in 1838, however there may have been a waterway of some type before that as this is on the route of the leats which connected up with at least 5 waterpowered sites that operated locally involved in stamps operations (Higher Trevarno Stamps and Bog Mine, date around 1792).
- At this time it contained 2 islands.
- The pond was adjoined on all sides by woodland, except along its eastern edge.
- On the 1st edition OS map in 1877, the lake had been modified and the boathouse constructed.
- Also at this time the lake had been straightened on the western side and was curved at the northern corner, beyond the boathouse.
- Around this time, 1877, the island closest to the boat house was removed.
- Modifications included extending the gardens around the north eastern side.
- By 1909 on the 2nd edition OS map, it showed that the lake had been extended northwards to its present outline by the owner at the time William Bickford-Smith.
- A second island was constructed in the new part.
- It was noted on the 2nd edition OS map as “Fish Pond” and the boathouse, shown in the same location as the 1 st edition is marked “Boathouse”.
- Ornamental planting was carried out around the lake by several generations of Bickford-Smiths. The Pinetum was planted by William Bickford-Smith (1875-95), Magnolia cambellii was planted by Mr and Mrs J C Bickford-Smith. Mr and Mrs Michael Bickford-Smith planted the hybrid Rhododendrons and Azaleas. The primula helidoxa were planted by Mr and Mrs Peter Bickford-Smith.
lake lawn
- In 1841 the Tithe map shows that the lake lawn area formed part of a meadow, extending along the east side of the lake.
- In the 1st edition OS map a lawn was created along with a path alongside the lake edge.
- In the 2nd edition OS map the lawn bed had been modified in shape and the terraces were shown.
grotto
- Until the 2nd edition OS map the area is shown as a meadow and was turned into gardens by William Bickford-Smith.
- The OS map doesn’t show any paths to indicate the rockery, fountain or pool.
- There is also no indication on the 3rd OS map.
- It is most likely that William Bickford-Smith constructed the rockery.
- The rockery contains 2 old mortar stones. They were used for hand grinding tin or tin rich slag.
- A large granite trough is situated opposite the cave and was thought to have been used by John Wesley when he preached here.
- The seats at the grotto have the names of Peter Bickford-Smith's parents-in-law on them - the Coates.
pinetum
- The Pinetum was created by William Bickford-Smith during his occupation of Trevarno (1874-95).
- On the 1841 Tithe map of the area this was noted as a meadow and was in use for arable rotation.
- The Pinetum was first shown on the 2nd edition OS map.
- It was created as part of much more extensive plans which included the extension of the lake.
- William Bickford-Smith planted over 120 different species of conifers. During 1883 at least 30,000 trees of different species were planted.
- The paths that remain today were shown on the 2 nd edition OS map.
terraces
- Not shown on the 1841 Tithe map. At that stage the area was part of a meadow.
- On the 1st edition OS map there is a central rectangular bed with paths.
- The scale and location of the bed suggests a growing area associated with the kitchen gardens, suggestion that this was not terraced at this point.
- On the 2nd edition OS map the terraces are shown in their present form. The area consisted of 3 rectilinear compartments. There is no indication that they were terraced, however, the shape is the same as now. This suggests that the terrace arrangements were part of the modification for the kitchen gardens.
- A guide states, “The Terraces, found above the lake, were planted with annuals, perennial herbaceous plants and rose gardens with many gravel paths.”
- Post 1975, hybrid Rhodendrons were planted in the top and bottom terraces and Acer palmatum planted on the middle terrace.
terrace bank
- In 1841 the area is shown on the map, but with no details.
- A zigzag path connected from the main drive down to the walled garden drive.
- The 2nd edition OS map shows the zigzag path clearly. The path separated the walled garden and terrace area.
- Is shows walls within the bank, which still survive today.
- The above works were carried out by William Bickford-Smith.
- Peter Bickford-Smith considered the path to be dangerous and planted the area. The guide states “the wooden steps, now slate and often slippery, are to be found at the western end of Lizzie’s walk.”
walled garden
- This was created in approximately 1838 by Christopher Wallis Popham.
- It is first shown on the 1841 Tithe map and is noted as higher and lower garden.
- The Boiler House is shown attached to the lower garden and green house in 1841. A separate drive or path led to the building and still survives today.
- The 1st edition OS map shows the arrangement of the gardens in more details.
- The north wall of the higher walled garden was constructed and shows two large central plots, divided by paths and a narrow path around the walls.
- The lower garden was connected to the higher garden by 2 archways. This garden was divided into central plots and narrow borders.
- The 1st edition OS map shows a long green house with a central bay, on the inside face. This still survives today.
- The 2nd edition OS map shows a long greenhouse with a small central bay, constructed in the higher garden on the northeast wall. This means the greenhouses were built between 1877 and 1908.
- A small greenhouse had been constructed in front of the existing lower garden greenhouse.
- Black Hamburg and Muscat vines, still found in the higher garden greenhouse, date from 1840, but the actual greenhouses were not built until 1908.
- During the 1980’s the cultivated area of the kitchen garden was reduced and then grassed over.