Withiel

Withiel Sculpture Garden



Open by appointment only

[email protected]

+44(0)1872 275757

Hidden within the heart of the Cornish countryside lies Withiel House and Sculpture Garden – one of Cornwall’s most stunning and secluded art and performance destinations.

When Lemon Street Gallery Director Marie Louise Jones first visited Withiel House in 2013 she instantly fell in love with the house and gardens – and it’s not hard to see why. Sheltered by ancient woodland, neighbouring a mediaeval church and with far reaching views to the north over Bodmin Moor and the Atlantic beyond, both the house and location are simply breathtaking.

Inspired at an early age by a visit to the Third Eye Centre in Glasgow, Louise had long harboured an ambition to create a multidisciplinary arts venue where artists, performers and art lovers alike could come together to share work and celebrate the present. At Withiel House she saw an opportunity to realise this dream and over the last ten years she and her team have created a destination where art, history and nature combine. And the results are magical.

The journey to Withiel House is all part of the experience. Travelling down the hedge-lined country lanes the anticipation builds, with glimpses of Bronze Age barrows, mediaeval stone crosses and iron finger signs from the industrial era all serving as a reminder of our evolving relationship with the natural world.

When finally arriving through the front gates one can’t help but be struck by the tranquillity of the setting. ‘Withiel’ derives from the Cornish word ‘Gwydhyel’ meaning ‘Wooded Place’ and remains true to its name. Descending down the driveway, flanked by an ancient bluebell wood, the outside world quickly fades away – it’s as if time begins to slow. The estate marks the midpoint of The Saints Way – a long distance footpath linking the North and South Cornish coast – and just as travellers must have found over the centuries, this is a place to discover and explore.

The house, perched high on the southern slope of the Ruthern Valley, sits majestically within its surroundings. Originally built in 16?? by the esteemed Vvyan family, it now hosts two gallery spaces within the main building and an additional gallery within the recently converted 18th Century barn. Through meticulous restoration and refurbishment Louise has achieved an exquisite balance of past and present, accentuating the original features of the property whilst infusing it with a restrained, contemporary elegance. As a result, Withiel House has become the perfect venue to host Lemon Street Gallery exhibitions, where both clients and friends can come together and revel in the most serene of settings.

Outside, the acres of landscaped grounds and verdant woodland provide the backdrop for the awe-inspiring sculpture garden. Wandering the winding paths and borders, with the sound of birdsong all around, one is transported back to childhood. At every turn a new treasure awaits – whether it be a giant corten-steel flower petal on the formal lawns, a marble lighting bolt within the vegetable garden or a bronze-silver bust beside the old workshop. Meandering through the bluebell wood evokes a sense of both wonder and nostalgia, encountering sights and shapes that could have been carved straight from one’s earliest memories or dreams.

Every visit to Withiel House is certain to be entirely unique. The house, the gardens, the rotation of the artwork and the visitors – all flow along with the changing seasons. However what remains constant is Louise’s commitment to breathe new life and beauty into this remarkable place and her passion to share exceptional art with her guests. Departing back through the front gates, leaving Withiel behind, one might question whether the whole experience actually happened. But rest assured it did and it is undoubtedly destined to linger long in the imagination.

— Eddie Elks, Actor