Menabilly
Encyclopedia
Menabilly is an Elizabethan
house on the south coast of Cornwall
, England, United Kingdom, on the Rashleigh Estate, seat of the Rashleigh family. Menabilly is situated on the Gribben
peninsula about 2 miles (3.2 km) west of Fowey
. The great house itself lies in woodland just outside Menabilly Barton at .
.
Jonathan was a MP
who continued in that profession until the start of the English Civil War
of 1641-1651 during which Menabilly was ransacked of livestock, furniture and stores. After Charles I
's execution Jonathan was imprisoned at St Mawes castle
with his estate bankrupt from the war and parliamentarian taxes. After Jonathan's death in 1675 his son of the same name inherited the estate. After his death in 1702 his son Philip Rashleigh inherited. In 1724 he had paid off many of the estate mortgages and began to rebuild the derelict house which had suffered so badly in the civil war. He also built stables by the house. His brother Jonathan took over the estates after Philip's death in 1736. Jonathan was responsible for the building of the pier at Polkerris
.
His oldest son Philip
was a renowned mineralogist
who became a large collector of many mineral samples, writing many books on the subject and dedicating a room at Menabilly to store them. Philip also started a coin collection which expanded greatly to become one of the greatest in the country. Philip had the Gardens relandscaped and built the grotto at Polridmouth made of "every variety of English and foreign stones and shell" and also planted the woodland around the house and around the estate. After Philip's death in 1811 he was succeeded by his nephew William Rashleigh. He was a member of the Church Missionary Society and had built Tregaminion Chapel. In 1822 a fire broke out which lead him to greatly extend the house. During these alterations his architect noticed that the buttress against the north wall was not really supporting anything and so had it demolished upon this they discovered steps leading to a small cell where they found the body of a Cavalier
, when William researched this he discovered that certain members of the Grenville family had sought sanctuary from the Parliamentarian
forces during the civil war. William's son (also called William) inherited the estate in 1855 and travelled round the Middle East
. Whilst he was in Egypt
he met a sheikh in Cairo
who when heard his name was Rashleigh asked him if he knew Philp Rashleigh and then told him that many years before when he was a prisoner of war in England Philip had invited him to Menabilly many times.
William's younger brother Jonathan Rashleigh greatly improved and extended the gardens and grounds surrounding Menabilly. He planted many trees including pines, cedars, eucalyptuses and beeches. He also planted rhododendrons, bamboos and hydrangeas.
Upon Jonathan's death in 1905 the estate passed to John Rashleigh, his grandson, who rarely lived at the house and let it fall into serious decay. It was discovered in a dilapidated state by author Daphne du Maurier
who, when granted a lease in 1943, set about restoring it and living in it before returning it to the Rashleighs in 1969.
Today, Menabilly and most of the grounds remain private although two cottages on the estate are rented as holiday lets.
, Cambridgeshire
, for "Manderley
", the house in du Maurier's novel Rebecca
(1938). Like Menabilly, the fictional Manderley was hidden in woods and could not be seen from the shore.
Elizabethan era
The Elizabethan era was the epoch in English history of Queen Elizabeth I's reign . Historians often depict it as the golden age in English history...
house on the south coast of Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, England, United Kingdom, on the Rashleigh Estate, seat of the Rashleigh family. Menabilly is situated on the Gribben
Gribben Head
Gribben Head is a promontory on the south coast of Cornwall, United Kingdom. It separates St Austell Bay from the estuary of the River Fowey and is marked by a large tower used to aid navigation of ships approaching the local harbours. The nearest town is Fowey.-Location:Gribben Head is the most...
peninsula about 2 miles (3.2 km) west of Fowey
Fowey
Fowey is a small town, civil parish and cargo port at the mouth of the River Fowey in south Cornwall, United Kingdom. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 2,273.-Early history:...
. The great house itself lies in woodland just outside Menabilly Barton at .
History and description
The land that Menabilly was built on it has been owned by the Rashleigh family since the 1560s. In 1589 John Rashleigh commenced building work on the mansion which was completed in 1624 by his son Jonathan RashleighJonathan Rashleigh
Jonathan Rashleigh , was an English merchant and politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1614 and 1675. He supported the Royalist cause during the Civil War....
.
Jonathan was a MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
who continued in that profession until the start of the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
of 1641-1651 during which Menabilly was ransacked of livestock, furniture and stores. After Charles I
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
's execution Jonathan was imprisoned at St Mawes castle
St Mawes Castle
St Mawes Castle and its larger sister castle, Pendennis, were built as part of a defensive chain of fortresses by Henry VIII to protect the south coast of Cornwall, England, United Kingdom...
with his estate bankrupt from the war and parliamentarian taxes. After Jonathan's death in 1675 his son of the same name inherited the estate. After his death in 1702 his son Philip Rashleigh inherited. In 1724 he had paid off many of the estate mortgages and began to rebuild the derelict house which had suffered so badly in the civil war. He also built stables by the house. His brother Jonathan took over the estates after Philip's death in 1736. Jonathan was responsible for the building of the pier at Polkerris
Polkerris
Polkerris is a small village on the south coast of Cornwall, United Kingdom. It forms part of the civil parish of Fowey.The village was formerly part of the Rashleigh estate which is commemorated in the name of the pub, 'Rashleigh Inn'...
.
His oldest son Philip
Philip Rashleigh
Philip Rashleigh FRS , antiquary and Cornish squire, eldest son of Jonathan Rashleigh, M.P. for Fowey in Cornwall , who married, on 11 June 1728, Mary, daughter of Sir William Clayton of Marden in Surrey, was born at Aldermanbury, London, 28 Dec.1729...
was a renowned mineralogist
Mineralogy
Mineralogy is the study of chemistry, crystal structure, and physical properties of minerals. Specific studies within mineralogy include the processes of mineral origin and formation, classification of minerals, their geographical distribution, as well as their utilization.-History:Early writing...
who became a large collector of many mineral samples, writing many books on the subject and dedicating a room at Menabilly to store them. Philip also started a coin collection which expanded greatly to become one of the greatest in the country. Philip had the Gardens relandscaped and built the grotto at Polridmouth made of "every variety of English and foreign stones and shell" and also planted the woodland around the house and around the estate. After Philip's death in 1811 he was succeeded by his nephew William Rashleigh. He was a member of the Church Missionary Society and had built Tregaminion Chapel. In 1822 a fire broke out which lead him to greatly extend the house. During these alterations his architect noticed that the buttress against the north wall was not really supporting anything and so had it demolished upon this they discovered steps leading to a small cell where they found the body of a Cavalier
Cavalier
Cavalier was the name used by Parliamentarians for a Royalist supporter of King Charles I and son Charles II during the English Civil War, the Interregnum, and the Restoration...
, when William researched this he discovered that certain members of the Grenville family had sought sanctuary from the Parliamentarian
Roundhead
"Roundhead" was the nickname given to the supporters of the Parliament during the English Civil War. Also known as Parliamentarians, they fought against King Charles I and his supporters, the Cavaliers , who claimed absolute power and the divine right of kings...
forces during the civil war. William's son (also called William) inherited the estate in 1855 and travelled round the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
. Whilst he was in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
he met a sheikh in Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
who when heard his name was Rashleigh asked him if he knew Philp Rashleigh and then told him that many years before when he was a prisoner of war in England Philip had invited him to Menabilly many times.
William's younger brother Jonathan Rashleigh greatly improved and extended the gardens and grounds surrounding Menabilly. He planted many trees including pines, cedars, eucalyptuses and beeches. He also planted rhododendrons, bamboos and hydrangeas.
Upon Jonathan's death in 1905 the estate passed to John Rashleigh, his grandson, who rarely lived at the house and let it fall into serious decay. It was discovered in a dilapidated state by author Daphne du Maurier
Daphne du Maurier
Dame Daphne du Maurier, Lady Browning DBE was a British author and playwright.Many of her works have been adapted into films, including the novels Rebecca and Jamaica Inn and the short stories "The Birds" and "Don't Look Now". The first three were directed by Alfred Hitchcock.Her elder sister was...
who, when granted a lease in 1943, set about restoring it and living in it before returning it to the Rashleighs in 1969.
Today, Menabilly and most of the grounds remain private although two cottages on the estate are rented as holiday lets.
In popular culture
The house was the inspiration, along with Milton HallMilton Hall
Milton Hall is the largest private house in Cambridgeshire, England, and formerly a part of Northamptonshire. It dates from 1594, being the historical home of the Fitzwilliam family, and is situated in an extensive park in which some original oak trees from an earlier Tudor Deer Park...
, Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire is a county in England, bordering Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the northeast, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfordshire to the south, and Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire to the west...
, for "Manderley
Manderley
Manderley is the fictional estate of the character Maxim de Winter, and it plays a central part in Daphne du Maurier's 1938 novel, Rebecca, and in the film adaptation by Alfred Hitchcock...
", the house in du Maurier's novel Rebecca
Rebecca (novel)
Rebecca is a novel by Daphne du Maurier. When Rebecca was published in 1938, du Maurier became – to her great surprise – one of the most popular authors of the day. Rebecca is considered to be one of her best works...
(1938). Like Menabilly, the fictional Manderley was hidden in woods and could not be seen from the shore.