'One of Cornwall's prettiest houses' is on the market, a beautiful Queen Anne property set in rolling countryside
In every way deserving of its high praise, Great Treverran is like stepping inside a private, five-star boutique hotel — and is the perfect blend of Cornish country charm mixed with historical elegance and modern day style.


‘If there’s a prettier house in Cornwall than Great Treverran, we aren’t aware of it,’ says Truro-based agent Jonathan Cunliffe of the exquisite, Grade II*-listed gem of a country house set amid rolling countryside in the parish of Tywardreath, to the west of the Fowey estuary and south of the riverside town of Lostwithiel.
The town of Fowey itself is four miles south. Tywardreath means ‘The House on the Strand’ — the title of one of du Maurier’s more obscure novels, inspired by Kilmarth, the house where she lived after leaving Menabilly. The book includes several references to Great Treverran.
Mr Cunliffe quotes a guide price of £1.65m for the classic Queen Anne house — a rarity in these parts — the first reference to which was in the Lay Subsidy Roll of 1327, when ‘Treveryan’ was the seat of a branch of the Courtenay family.
In 1700, they sold it to John Thomas, who built the present house in about 1704. Thomas’s grandson, Henry, inherited the property in 1817, but died childless, after which it was sold to Richard Foster of nearby Lanlivery.
Described in its listing as ‘a fine early-18th-century house [built of] Pentewan stone masonry with granite dressings’, Great Treverran benefits from its construction using local materials and skilled craftsmen.
Distinctive features of the south front are the four full-height, granite Ionic columns, which extend through the eaves with a continuous granite cornice.
Not large, but perfectly formed and remarkably unspoilt, Great Treverran faces south over its 5½ acres of well-kept gardens and grounds towards undulating farmland beyond.
Sign up for the Country Life Newsletter
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
It offers 3,250sq ft of comfortable and well-proportioned accommodation, including two main reception rooms either side of the wide central hallway, with a kitchen and spacious breakfast room at the rear.
There are three bedrooms, a bathroom and shower room on the first floor, with a further bedroom and nursery on the second floor. It comes with a studio/workshop and other useful outbuildings.
Great Treverran is currently on the market via Jonathan Cunliffe — see more pictures, or enquire with the agent for further details.
Fowey: What you need to know
Location: The port town is situated at the mouth of the River Fowey in south Cornwall. Par is approximately 4 miles away, St Austell is approximately 8 miles, and there are mainline rail services from Par and Lostwithiel (7 miles).
Atmosphere: The epitome of Cornish coastal charm. Fowey continues to be a popular destination for sailors, holiday makers and those looking to escape to the country. The bustling high street is home to a number of independent shops, restaurants and pubs — becoming an epicentre for all things water-based during the summer season.
Things to do: If visiting the nearby spectacular beaches, river and coastal walks seem too obvious, then head to St Catherine's Castle at the entrance to the Fowey River. There is also a five mile circular 'creeks and coves' walk, plus numerous gardens to explore.
Schools: Fowey Primary School and Tywardreath School are both rated 'good' in Ofsted reviews. Secondary options include Fowey River Academy.
See more property for sale in the area.
Credit: Strutt and Parker
Best country houses for sale this week
An irresistible West Country cottage and a magnificent Cumbrian country house make our pick of the finest country houses for
-
The King's favourite tea, conclave and spring flowers: Country Life Quiz of the Day, April 22, 2025
Tuesday's Quiz of the Day blows smoke, tells the time and more.
By Toby Keel Published
-
London is the place for me* (*the discerning property buyer)
With more buyers looking at London than anywhere else, is the 'race for space' finally over?
By Annabel Dixon Last updated
-
London is the place for me* (*the discerning property buyer)
With more buyers looking at London than anywhere else, is the 'race for space' finally over?
By Annabel Dixon Last updated
-
What's a 'wellness village' and will it tempt you back into the office?
The team behind London's first mixed-use ‘wellness village’ says it has the magic formula for tempting workers back into offices.
By Annunciata Elwes Published
-
A mini estate in Kent that's so lovely it once featured in Simon Schama's 'History of Britain'
The Paper Mill estate is a picture-postcard in the Garden of England.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
Hidden excellence in a £7.5 million north London home
Behind the traditional façades of Provost Road, you will find something very special.
By James Fisher Published
-
Sip tea and laugh at your neighbours in this seaside Norfolk home with a watchtower
On Cliff Hill in Gorleston, one home is taller than all the others. It could be yours.
By James Fisher Published
-
A Grecian masterpiece that might be one of the nation's finest homes comes up for sale in Kent
Grade I-listed Holwood House sits in 40 acres of private parkland just 15 miles from central London. It is spectacular.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
Some of the finest landscapes in the North of England with a 12-bedroom home attached
Upper House in Derbyshire shows why the Kinder landscape was worth fighting for.
By James Fisher Published
-
Could Gruber's Antiques from Paddington 2 be your new Notting Hill home?
It was the home of Mr Gruber and his antiques in the film, but in the real world, Alice's Antiques could be yours.
By James Fisher Published