The Lost Gardens of Heligan
Tuesday was a trip to the Lost Gardens of Heligan which was the family seat of the Tremaynes for over 400 years. By the early 20th century the house fell into neglect and the gardens were allowed to become overgrown. The Tremayne family purchased the Heligan estate from the Hill family in the 16th century and built a new manor house here in 1603. The house was rebuilt in 1692 in William and Mary style. The superb gardens surrounding the house were begun by Rev. Henry Hawkins Tremayne in the late 18th century. Rev. Tremayne called in Thomas Gray to create a garden plan around 1780, and this plan helped the eventual restoration work. Tremayne planted trees to screen the site and laid out the northern gardens and rose garden. The Burmese Rope Bridge across 'The Jungle' Later generations of the family added a wild area known as The Jungle, with subtropical plants including giant tree ferns, overlooking the fishing port at Mevagissey below. The last re