The Lost Gardens of Heligan
The Lost Gardens of Heligan
Open all year round, Heligan, seat of the Tremayne family for over 400 years, is one of the most mysterious estates in England. Between 1770 and 1914, four generations created an almost self sufficient community. A century ago the garden was thriving and productive. Gradual decline set in following the departure of the last resident squire in the 1920’s brambles and ivy were drawing a veil over this “sleeping beauty” but in 1990 following decades of neglect the gardens were rescued from overgrowth and decay.
More than twenty years have now passed and the immaculate and award winning restoration of Heligans productive heart has come of age!
This is a wonderful place!
Ideally you should spend a whole day at Heligan as there are over 200 acres to explore.
There is a Tea-Room, a Shop- for mementos of your visit and a Plant Centre offering you the opportunity of recreating your own little piece of the Lost Gardens at home.
Assistance dogs admitted. Dogs on leads welcome Oct - March. Access information for disabled visitors is available in advance or on arrival. Stout footwear is reccommended for those who wish to explore the Jungle and wider estate.
Not far from Heligan is Mevagissey, a traditional fishing village, it’s working harbour has an unbroken tradition of boat building since 1745. Fishermen still repair nets on the harbourside and are happy to take visitors out on angling or pleasure trips. In the narrow streets leading off the harbour, craft workshops sit side by side with shops, art galleries, cafes, restaurants and pubs which were once the haunts of Cornish Smugglers!
Mevagissey is home to one of Britain’s most entertaining model railway displays www.model-railway.co.uk whilst across the on the quayside there’s an aquarium in the old lifeboat house containing some of the local fishermen’s more unusual catches. Also not to be missed is the Mevagissey Folk Museum on the East Quay. Displays and wonderful photographs show how Mevagissey once looked when the Pilchard industry was booming.
In fact Mevagissey was the first village to have electric street lighting, powered from pilchard oil and was the starting place of Pears soap.
For more information on Mevagissey click here
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