We are extremely fortunate to be able to hold the 2022 Cornwall AGM at the historic Werrington Park by kind permission of the Williams family.  The AGM is generously supported by our partners Coodes Solicitors and Savills.

AGENDA

Opening by Branch President

1. To receive apologies for absence

2. To confirm and sign the Minutes of the 2019 Annual General Meeting, held on Tuesday 19 March 2019

3. Matters Arising from Minutes

4. To receive and adopt the Annual Report

5. To elect Branch Officers and Council Representative

6. To elect new committee members

7. Any other business

ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS

Exit the A30 at Launceston and head north on the A388 moving to the B3254.  Please note that the South Lodge entrance will be closed.  Please continue to Ladycross, turning right to Werrington.

Signs will be in place to guide you to the North Lodge Entrance, which is accessed close to North Tamerton C of E Church.

Parking is available by the house.

What 3 Words

https://what3words.com/masks.lighter.rushed 

Please note that we do not recommend exiting the A30 at Liftondown due to possible flooding on cross country routes.

Please ensure that appropriate clothing and footwear is worn for the tour.

Werrington Park

We are pleased to hold the 2022 Cornwall AGM at Werrington Park, Launceston by kind permission of Thomas and Fia Williams.

Werrington Estate and the rural parish was, until a boundary change in 1966, part of Devon but now all sits in Cornwall. The Estate and parkland, extending now at around 1800 acres and has a confirmed history dating back to 1021 when the mother of Harold, the last Saxon King, is believed to have sold the house and estate to the Abbots of Tavistock.

The house became one of the country residences of the Abbot and was used as such until 1539 when Henry VIII have all properties held by the Abbey to the Duke of Bedford. However, the large fishpond, which is a feature of the park today, and the fallow deer are both legacies of the Abbots.

A long settled period was brought to an end, with the estate passing through several hands until bought by Sir Francis Drake circa 1630, a nephew of the Spanish scourge. Sir Francis built the old back part of the house as it is today, except for the back passage and the wings joining the old with the imposing mansion to the fore. During the civil war Drake, a Parliamentarian, was evicted from Werrington after the battle of Netherbridge, won by the Royalists, and only regained it following the defeat of the Royalist army. Sir Francis enclosed the Park before selling the Estate to the Morice family. Werrington Park features in the King’s General by Daphne Du Maurier.

There is no ascribed architect for the imposing magnolia mansion which oversees the timbered parkland valley, but it was built by Sir William Morice between 1720/1760. The Morice family lived at Werrington for around 100 years. The finishing touches of the mansion were added by the Duke of Northumberland, who never lived at Werrington but enjoyed the parliamentary seats which came with the rotten borough!

The Duke of Northumberland sold the property shortly after the Reform Act 1867 where it was passed through several owners before Mike Williams’ great grandfather, J C Williams, purchased the property in 1882. A devastating fire in 1974 resulted in the destruction of much of the first floor of the old part of the house and its roof. This has now been largely restored.

The mansion and park have evolved over the centuries to reflect the changing fashions but still form part of the working estate. The park itself remains a place of great tranquillity and beauty and has been the setting for numerous parish and other events over the years, including the popular Countryman’s Fair.

Mike and Sarah Williams handed over the reins to their son Thomas in 2020, Mike, who once had a herd of Ruby Red Devon’s left the park a blank slate for Thomas to put his own stamp on it. The Williams’ are welcoming us into their home during this period of change for which we are grateful.

Members will be provided the opportunity to tour the house and, weather permitting, parts of the gardens. We hope the weather will allow us to visit the Chinese Garden which was the nursery for many of the Rhododendrons we saw in 2019 at Caerhays Castle, of course, also owned by J C Williams.