A Lingering Look at Windows: In the Garden

Trelissick’s colourful history stretches as far back as 1750 but it’s most distinguished owner was Leonard Cunliffe, a former director of the bank of England.

Cunliffe fell in love with this Cornish house as he sailed past it on his yacht Laranda in the early 1900s. In 1937 he passed the house down to his stepdaughter Ida and her husband Ronald Copeland. Ronald was the chairman of the Spode-Copeland firm of bone china manufacturers in Staffordshire and hence part of the potteries aristocracy. They lived at Trelissick throughout their careers donating the house and gardens to the National Trust in 1955

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Trelissick has no less than four summer-houses. One in the area called Carcaddon*  has two beautiful stained-glass windows.

The magnolia, “Rustic Rubera” window is for Ida Copeland and highlights her time as an MP for Stoke from 1931 to 1935 and contains an excerpt from her maiden speech to Parliament on the introduction of import duties on inferior ceramics being imported from abroad, taking away work from highly skilled people and threatening their livelihood.

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The rhododendron, “Taurus” window celebrates Ronald Copeland’s passion for rhododendrons and retells a story told by Harold Holdway, chief designer at the Copeland factory in Stoke. Mr Copeland took his prized rhododendrons from Trelissick and had Harold Holdway create designs from them for a Botanical series.

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*The Cornish prefix ‘Car’ or ‘Caer’ denotes a fortified place. It contains mass plantings of daffodils followed by camellias, magnolias (including magnolia Trelissick), rhododendrons, viburnum and many other shrubs. Deutzia gives an early summer show, and lace-cap hydrangeas offer colour well into autumn.

This monthly challenge is hosted by Dawn from ‘The Day After’ who invites participants to post pictures of any windows that  they find curious, inviting, photogenic, or in some way tell a story. Visit her blog to see more windows and/or to join in with the challenge.

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Heyjude

I have lived in the UK for most of my life, but when young I definitely had wanderlust and even ended up living in South Africa for several years which was a wonderful experience. I now look forward to a long and leisurely retirement doing what I like most - gardening, photography, walking and travelling.

39 thoughts on “A Lingering Look at Windows: In the Garden”

  2. Wonderful windows, and a delightful summer house Jude. I would love to pick that up, and bring it to my garden in Beetley. They might notice its absence though…
    Regards as always, Pete. x

  7. Fascinating history about this family, house and the stunning stained glass windows. The photos don’t hurt either. Wonderful close-ups. Thanks, Jude. 😉

    1. The gardens are superb as is the orangery. The house has only just opened and I haven’t been inside – save the insides for a rainy day and so far we have managed to do OK!

      1. If you are genuinely interested I made these windows as part of my degree in Contemporary Crafts at Falmouth University in 2012. I am happy to design and make stained glass windows to anyone’s personal reqiurements.

  9. I would like a summerhouse like that! Do we get to see the other three? The windows are beautiful – no religious iconography to do battle with – and it’s great to have their stories too.

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