Lanhydrock House reopens after restoration

A 17th century National Trust house and garden in Cornwall has reopened to the public after it was closed for a year due to a conservation project.

Dirt and discolouration was cleaned from the ceiling of Lanhydrock's late-Victorian country house by conservationists.

The ceiling has detailed mouldings of artwork, and Nicola Heald, the senior collections and house manager said it had been a "huge project".

There are 24 panels with scenes from the Old Testament Book of Genesis, which includes Adam and Eve, Noah and the Ark and David and Goliath.

Ms Heald said: "I can't wait for visitors to be able to see the completed ceiling in all its glory.

"The conservation team have done an amazing job, from applying new distemper to repairing unicorn horns, the difference to the ceiling is staggering."

Created for Lanhydrock's former owner, John Robartes, between 1620 to 1640, the ceiling is Jacobean plasterwork.

John Robartes and the craftsmen took inspiration from manuscripts in his library and from printed drawings.

New research has shown the beasts on the ceiling were copied directly from a book by Edward Topsell, a clergyman who published several books which contained animals.

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