Castle of Trematon
Nestled within what has been described as“the most romantic garden in Cornwall”, the historic Castle of Trematon is a place of gathering, creativity, and nature-led practice. It is the family home of House of Hackney founders Frieda Gormley and Javvy M Royle, and is used by House of Hackney as a mission-aligned partner location.
Read on to explore more about the Castle’s rich history and its extraordinary transformation.
HISTORY
From the Queen’s jewels to the Queendom of Nature
From the Queen’s jewels to the Queendom of Nature
Perched atop the ancient pagan hills once regarded as the gateway between England and Cornwall, Trematon Castle or, as it is now known, the Castle of Trematon, is a picturesque miniature Norman motte-and-bailey castle located in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on the Tamar Estuary.
The castle was constructed in 1068 by Robert, Count of Mortain, to reinforce William the Conqueror's control following his victory at the Battle of Hastings. In 1337, the castle was granted to Edward the Black Prince (a former Prince of Wales), for whom the Grade I-listed gatehouse was built, and who, legend says, stayed there only once.
Two hundred years later came the most swashbuckling moment in the castle’s history, when Elizabeth I ordered Sir Francis Drake to stash looted treasure, a hoard of gold, silver and emeralds taken from Spanish ships while voyaging the Pacific Ocean, in Trematon Castle before it was later shipped to the Tower of London.
The castle then fell into neglect and ruin for centuries until, in 1807, the Duchy granted a 100-year lease to naval officer Benjamin Tucker, along with permission to build a house within the castle courtyard. Further changes occurred when part of the medieval castle wall was taken down to provide views from the house towards Plymouth Sound, and again in 1812, when an ornate swimming pool was carved into the lower gardens to commemorate a visit by the Prince Regent, later crowned George IV.
Today, the castle serves as a setting for a new chapter driven by care, creativity, and stewardship, and is utilised as a space for gathering and inspiration by House of Hackney founders Frieda Gormley and Javvy M Royle through mission-aligned arrangements.
the interiors
A miniature museum for irreverent British design
A miniature museum for irreverent British design
At the heart of Trematon Castle stands a grand Georgian house overlooking the castle courtyard. Built in 1808, the nine-bedroom building was designed by Benjamin Tucker, who secured a 100-year lease on the castle after it had fallen into ruin. Tucker was a follower of Sir John Soane, the influential British architect known for his original interpretations of Neo-Classical style, and the house reflects Soane’s love of symmetry and light-filled spaces.
In more recent years, the house has undergone careful renovation led by Frieda Gormley and Javvy M Royle, celebrating the castle’s layered history while opening the interiors to the botanical richness of the surrounding gardens.
A shared belief in the restorative power of colour informs the interior palette, which draws inspiration from the natural tones found in the surrounding landscape, greens, lilacs, yellows, clay pinks, and earthy reds. Even the roof of the house is painted lichen green, a nod to Cornwall’s native mosses and the clarity of its coastal air.
Adorned with House of Hackney’s iconic prints, the interiors act as a miniature museum for irreverent British design. In keeping with the brand’s long-standing commitment to championing local factories and generations-old techniques, the décor is anchored by timeless yet characterful pieces crafted by skilled artisans from across the UK.
the gardens
“The most romantic garden in Cornwall” – The Times
“The most romantic garden in Cornwall” – The Times
Illuminated by the light from where the Celtic sea meets the Tamar Estuary, the gardens are swathed with opulent borders and wild, romantic meadows to which Mother Nature herself is the only gardener – all offset by the 14th-century ruins and ramparts that conjure the medieval magic of the legends of King Arthur.
The castle keep sits atop a mound carpeted with wildflowers and banks of extravagant blooms, from rambling roses and pillowy peonies to lush lupines and fragrant lilies. Come the summer months, the air is cloaked in the scent of aromatic wild herbs; thyme, marjoram, woodbine and fennel.
The gardens then give way to an orchard – spangled with Poet’s narcissus and wild tulips growing underneath the apple and cherry trees – as well as enchanting woodland, where foxglove, magnolia and dogwood flourish amongst the ancient oaks. There are even palms - a House of Hackney signature- framing the magnificent view down to the estuary and beyond.
Within the wild gardens sit a 19th century gate lodge, transformed into an ode to William Morris; an old apple shed turned into a darkly romantic cabin with the florals of FLORIKA; a fleet of House of Hackney vintage caravans, and surrounded by sub tropical blooms, an Indian pool, imported as a token of love from a previous owner to another.
As Seen at Trematon
