Carclew House

[2] The original house and estate were purchased by a wealthy merchant William Lemon (1696–1760) circa 1739.

[3] Work began in 1739, the enhancement to the mansion included flanking the main block with colonnades terminated by small pavilions in the fashionable Palladian manner, the design was similar in appearance to drawings of Palladio's planned Villa Ragona.

He employed the architect William Wood (1746–1818) to create new wings in the place of the pavilions designed by Edwards.

[7] In the late 1930s though, one wing was ‘made habitable by hard work’ and brought into service as a reception centre for refugees coming from Europe.

[8] The terraced gardens complete with their water fountains and cascades remain and are privately owned and not open to the public.

Carclew House circa 1830
Early photograph of Carclew House, taken in August 1841 by Henry Fox Talbot
Early photograph showing people, including Sir Charles Lemon, left, at one of the colonnaded wings, taken in August 1841 by Henry Fox Talbot