Trengwainton

 

Yesterday we got to grips with St Ives. Today we are going to see Trengwainton, the first of several of the Gardens which Cornwall is so well known for. Trengwainton is located in Madron, near Penzance and is owned by the National Trust.

You can either choose the shady path of the tree-lined Long Walk or make the most of any sun on the carriage drive which opens onto a colourful stream border and meadows. 

We have decided to follow the Long Walk outwards and the Carriage Drive on the way back.  It is a very pleasant stroll emerging beside the Big House,  which is inevitably out of bounds.

 

It gradually becomes clear that the Carriage Drive houses the most dramatic plants, especially Rhododendrons, Camellias and Azalias.

 

This beautiful white shrub is Prunus Mount Fuji.

And this one is Rhodendron "Hinomayo".

We headed back towards St Ives, almost immediately stumbling on a hitherto unnoticed set of Almshouses, the Gulval Almhouses. They were built by Richard Foster Bolitho in 1903, but surprisingly are not referred to in Pevsner. Here is a rather rough and ready photo.