400 ON A TUDOR MANSION AT TREFUSIS. 



In style and character this ancient work was contemporaneous 

 with the architecture of Henry VII and VIII. The four-centred 

 arch stamped it of the Tudor period. 



It was also recognised that the ground plan of the Tudor 

 mansion was identical with that of its Georgian successor, with 

 the exception of the saloon, which was projected on the south 

 front of the Georgian house, and partly erected on an artificial 

 terrace then raised. 



By the courtesy of the architect, James Hicks, specimen 

 drawings of a stone mantlepiece* and a porchf are herewith 

 published, as well as the common ground plan of both Tudor 

 and Georgian mansions. To the same gentleman I am 

 indebted for the accompanying descriptive letter. 



Redruth, 19th May, 1890. 

 Trefusis. 



Dear Sir, 



I send herewith plans of the old buildings at Trefusis, and 

 sketches of the Tudor mantlepiece and doorway discovered in pulling down 

 the old house 



We also discovered several stones of the ancient windows, 

 which, however, are somewhat mutilated, but they are clear indications 

 that some of the windows were of considerable size. And there are lots 

 of wrought stones in one of the yard walls. Altogether the discoveries 

 show that the Tudor house was of considerable dimensions. 



The quaint springer stones of the gables, show that the roofs 

 were only of moderate pitch, that is, at about the same pitch as of the 

 contemporary churches, erected in the reign of Henry VII. 



The back doorway of the house is the original Tudor four- 

 centred archway, so also are the front cellar door and other doorways. 



From the fact that the stones of the original front doorway 

 are moulded inside and out, I gather that it was an open porch, and 

 I think it stood in the centre of the south front where the Georgian saloon 

 was afterwoods built. I am inclined to doubt if the large run of cellars 

 were built originally with the Tudor house, as they would have been 

 entirely outside the building. I think they must have been built when 

 the terrace was formed. 



♦This has been fixed in the hall of the new house. Another mantle-piece, 

 similar in pattern but smaller, has been placed in the upper room. 



f This porch is believed to have stood in the centre of the site of the Georgian 

 saloon, and is preserved near the N. W . angle of the new house, as a side entrance. 

 Two ancient window frames are also re-fixed. 



