Mount Edgcumbe Country Park - Features of The Park

Features of The Park

• Barn Pool

A sheltered deep water basin anchorage used by the Vikings in 997. Offshore there is a shipwreck of the Catharina von Flensburg. On 27 December 1831, HMS Beagle set off from here on her second survey voyage, captained by Robert FitzRoy with Charles Darwin on board.

• Barrow

c.1200 BC - a Bronze Age burial mound, re-used as a "Prospect Mound" in the 18th century.

• Blockhouse

c.1545 - a small fort built on the shoreline in King Henry VIII's reign, to defend the mouth of the Tamar and the Edgcumbes' town of West Stonehouse opposite.

• Coastguard Station at Rame Head

Originally a Lloyd's Signal Station, where signalling was done from passing ships to the station by flags during the day and by lights at night, it became a radio station in 1905, then transferred to the Coastguards c.1925.

• Cremyll Ferry

c.1204 - a major ferry crossing between Devon and Cornwall since medieval times.

• Deer

In 1515 Sir Piers Edgcumbe was given permission by King Henry VIII to empark deer: the deer of today roam freely on the Rame Peninsula.

• Deer Wall

c.1695 - A stone wall with outer ditch to protect the Amphitheatre from deer.

• Earl's Drive

In early days called the Terrace. A driveway from the House round the coast to Maker Church by 1788, extended to Penlee Point by 1823.

• Folly

1747 - an artificial ruin which replaced a navigation obelisk. It was built from stone from the churches of St. George and St. Lawrence, Stonehouse.

• Formal Gardens

From circa 1750 to 1820 - gardens in Italian, English and French styles. New Zealand, American (1989) and Jubilee Gardens (2003) have now been added.

• Garden Battery

c.1747 and 1863 - an 18th century saluting platform, originally mounted with 21 guns to greet visitors. Re-built in 1863 as part of Plymouth's Naval defences, with granite casemates for 7 large 68-pounder guns.

• Harbour View Seat

18th century - a much damaged ornamental seat also known as White Seat, with a magnificent view north up the River Tamar.

• Higher Deer House

19th century - in the Grotton Plantation the ruins of a two storey fodder store for deer; and the ruined 18th century Pebble Seat facing south.

• Ice House

From around 1800, this ice house is situated under the bridge leading to the House. It is only open on special occasions.

• Maker Church

First mentioned in 1186, it was enlarged in the 15th century. This is the family church of the Edgcumbes.

• Milton's Temple

A circular temple from 1755, with a plaque inscribed with lines from Paradise Lost; overhead up grew, insuperable heights of loftiest shade......

• The Orangery

Situated in the Italian Garden the Orangery is thought to have been built as early as 1760. The building is now a fully licensed restaurant.

• Penlee Battery

1892 - the remains of a Victorian fort armed with 3 guns in both World Wars. A granite sculpture by Greg Powlesland, (1995), is in the nearby nature reserve.

• Picklecombe Fort Seat

A seat made from a doorway and enclosing a small niche with a piscina at the back. The carved stone comes from the churches of St. George and St. Lawrence at Stonehouse.

• Queen Adelaide's Grotto

18th century cave used as a watch house, enhanced with an arched stone building after Adelaide's visit, 1827.

• Rame Church

Rebuilt from a Norman church in 1239, and enlarged in the 15th century.

• Red Seat

19th century - a ruinous rest house, sometimes called the Kiosk, which was painted red. Below is another ruined seat known as Indian Cottage or The Verandah.

• Stables

c.1850 - The stables, dairy, smithy, sawmill and stores, all essential to the running of the estate. The stables are not open to the public.

• St. Julian's Well

A very small 15th century chapel and holy well, which was restored c.1890.

• St. Michael's Chapel

14th century - a chapel and simple lighthouse, with a beacon site nearby. Across the neck of the headland are the earthworks of an Iron Age fort.

• South West Coast Path

This goes around the Country Park.

• Thomson's Seat

From around 1760, a Doric pavilion with seats looking across to Plymouth Sound. Verses from Thomson's "The Seasons" are inscribed on the wall.

• West Lodge and Arch

The Arch may have been built to mark the creation of the Viscount in 1781.

• Zig-Zags

The Zig-Zag walks were from the 1760s, and became famous in the 19th century as The Horrors. Intricate paths on a dramatic cliff, surrounded by exotic shrubs. The lower cliff paths and some stone seats have been lost to cliff erosion.