Another sunny Saturday molrning so we decided to head for Cotehele house. A National Trust property, Cotehele House is a well preserved, and little altered, Tudor manor house in the east of Cornwall and on the banks of the River Tamar. It has a series of formal gardens near the house. Plus a richly planted valley garden, with a medieval dovecote and stewpond, a Victorian summerhouse and an 18th century tower with fine views.
Cotehele was owned by the Edgcumbe family for nearly six centuries. It is one of the least altered medieval houses in the country, it contains original furniture, armour and a set of remarkable tapestries. There is a working watermill and industrial ruins in the Danescombe Valley
The present house was built between 1485 and 1539 during the reigns of Richard III, Henry VII and Henry VIII.

Can I stay the night please- I am a porter!

The gardens of the house are really beautiful. I have included just a few of the 200 photos we took.

Can't get beetroot much fresher than this Gerry!!

I am becoming quite proficient at climbing trees as you can see!

How far up?

Ok.... so you've guessed!

Tarzan- where's Jane?

We both loved the lily pond and they were asking for volunteers to do a bit of weeding in the centre.......maybe next weekend.

Through every gateway another beautiful view.

At the bottom right of this picture you can see a 14th century dovecote.

Hiding in the giant rhubarb.... it's called gunera and grows up to 12 feet high in many sheltered valleys in Cornwall. Rhubarb crumble and custard any one ?

From the house we wandered through the woods down towards the quay.

The river Tamar runs through the estate and divides Cornwall from Devon.

The quay was used to load boats with limestone, arsenic, tin and copper.

We continued our walk along the banks of the river and eventually arrived at the mill.
Wheat is ground into flour here.

One of the original mill stones.

Black and Decker?.............maybe not!

Near the mill there are a few small workshops showing how life was in tudor times. This is the blacksmiths forge. There was also a saddlery and a pottery workshop.

Some examples of the carts that were used to transport goods to the quay.

Had to visit the gents........ spanish friends- do you remember the days when you chatted to your mates whilst relieving yourself!!!

On the way home we stopped at a local department store and I was talked into buying a tent- seems we are off camping next weekend..........weather permitting.

Didn't take too long to get an erection!!!