Perched discreetly in London, Penrose House holds stories richer than its bricks and mortar suggest. This isn’t just another building. It’s a chronicle etched in stone and slate.
Penrose House’s story twists through centuries. The Penrose family held land here even before 1269. Think of knights and ancient contracts shaping this very ground. Grants and inheritances expanded the estate. Marriages linked the Penroses to Cornish families. Names like St Aubyn and Killigrew echo in its history. These powerful connections shaped Penrose House.
Fast forward to 1664. Hearth Tax records show thirteen hearths blazing within Penrose House. Imagine the warmth and activity. The house pulsed with life.
Between 1750 and 1770, Hugh Rogers acquired Penrose. His son John married Margaret Basset. She was the daughter of Francis Basset of Tehidy. John became a Member of Parliament for Penryn. He was six times mayor. Also, he was the Deputy Lieutenant of Cornwall. The Rogers family significantly altered and expanded Penrose House.
Consider the principal front of Penrose House. It faces northwest. The original 17th-century U-shaped plan remains. It’s incorporated into the now irregular square layout. A small courtyard nestles inside. The front is nearly symmetrical.
Look closer at the details. Elvan ashlar and granite ashlar create a sturdy plinth. Granite string and parapet add elegance. Most other elevations feature Killas rubble. Granite dressings provide contrast. Some areas display slatehanging and stucco.
Roofs are mostly hipped. They are covered in scantle slate and dry slate. The northwest front boasts a moulded parapet. Original battlements remain to the left. Many 17th-century crested ridge tiles adorn the roof. A gadrooned urn sits proudly over the left-hand corner.
The southwest front spans seven windows. A wide projection stands on the left. It features a resited late 18th-century Venetian window. Most windows are early to mid-19th-century hornless sashes. They feature glazing bars.
Step inside, if you could. A 17th-century ovolo-moulded granite door jamb hints at the past. The right-hand wing retains an early 18th-century panelled room. Imagine fielded panels and a doorway with dentils. A six-panel door adds character. An eared overmantel and moulded ceiling cornice complete the picture. The ceiling features panels with moulded ribs. A round central panel displays a key pattern and acanthus rose.
The stair hall holds a large early 20th-century open-well staircase. Heavy turned balusters add grandeur. A chamber behind the stair hall boasts an 18th-century coved ceiling. Behind this chamber lies the room with the octagonal bay. Late 19th-century moulded plasterwork enriches the space.
Penrose House stands as a testament to evolving tastes and enduring family legacies. Its walls echo with the stories of Penroses and Rogers. The house embodies centuries of Cornish history. Penrose House is more than just a building. It is a landmark.