Godolphin House

The combination of a grey day and a NT voucher left in the house by my sister and today was the day to visit Godolphin House near Helston. Where the frist series of Poldark was filmed, it reeks of history with the family reaching their peak early in the 18th cnetury with the Earl of Godolphiin becoming the First Lord of the Treasury. More recently the owners were related to the arrtist Peter Lenyon I referred to earleir this month and one of my favourite Cornish artists.
The best story related ot the site was between thetwo most powerful local families, the Godolphins and St Aubyns, the latter being the owner off St. Michael's Mount. They wagered their respective seats on a race between two snails; Godolphin lost but St Aubyn, instead of claiming Godolphin's estate imposed an annual custom on Candlemas Day involving a rent paid in a large quart of strong beer, a loaf of wheaten bread and cheese of similar value and 2s 8d. Grewat story - especially if it was true!
A beautiful house that you can now rent by the week.