Homes Antiques

grandson and successor is only 12 years old

and the estate is run by trustees. ‘Albie loves

the house and it’s great to think there’s a

little chap coming on who cares’ says Lucy.

Meanwhile without compromising the late

Earl’s wishes tweaks are being made. A

suite known as the Terrace Rooms have

become guest accommodation. ‘The work

started before Lord St Germans died. He

was upset that the old wallpaper had to be

stripped away but he’s had the last laugh’

says Lucy. ‘We found an incredible 18th-

century Chinese-style mural behind it that

we’re keeping.’ Q

Visiting Port Eliot

ADDRESS Port Eliot St Germans Saltash Cornwall

PL12 5ND. 01503 230211; porteliot.co.uk

PORT ELIOT FESTIVAL 27th–30th July

For weekend and day tickets visit porteliotfestival.com

VISITING TIMES Port Eliot house and gardens are

currently closed for lming but will re-open to the

public in March 2018

ABOVE The Morning Room

walls are lined with 19th-

century silk damask. The

sumptuous neo-baroque

frame over the replace was

made by Robert Lenkiewicz to

display a series of 10 grisaille

portraits by Van Dyck. The

Dutch 17th-century cabinet to

the right is adorned with inlays

of tortoiseshell ebony ivory

and kingwood. Above it hangs

a self portrait by the artist

John Opie FACING PAGE

The extraordinary Round

Room designed by Sir John

Soane in which 20th-century

artist Robert Lenkiewicz was

commissioned to paint his

dramatic mural. On top of

the pine replace are around

20 logs carved in the form

of books by the writer and

whittler Heathcote Williams in

the 1980s. The chandelier is

19th-century French and the

circular Aubusson rug came

from a Russian palace

Of all the characters in this remarkable

family it’s hard to surpass Peregrine 10th

Earl of St Germans who died aged 75 last

year. ‘He was knowledgeable hospitable and

bohemian and loved the house’ says Ruth.

The 10th Earl was something of a Byronic

rebel: he founded the Port Eliot festival

inviting stars of music literature and food to

perform. He also parked his Harley-

Davidson in the Round Room where he left

his most dramatic mark. Considered to be

one of Sir John Soane’s masterpieces the

room served as a junk store until in the

1980s Peregrine commissioned the artist

Robert Lenkiewicz to decorate it. The mural

was never finished and is not for the faint-

hearted: portraits of family members estate

workers and friends feature alongside

fantastical elements such as Dando a

ghostly monk who is said to haunt the

grounds with a pack of hounds. The

fireplace is decorated with wooden books

carved from logs by Heathcote Williams.

Since Lord St Germans’ death the house

has entered a pivotal new chapter. Albie his

92 H&A SUMMER 2017