Prideaux Place
Elizabethan manor house above Padstow, still a family home, shown on guided tours with a plaster ceiling, portraits, a teddy bear collection and a deer park.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Prideaux Place was completed in 1592 by Sir Nicholas Prideaux, a lawyer, and has been the home of the Prideaux family ever since. The family is recorded in Cornwall since the Norman period, and they supported Oliver Cromwell in the Civil War. A marriage connected to a Secretary of State of Charles II helped to secure a royal pardon around 1660.
The house combines Elizabethan architecture with 18th-century Gothic alterations. Edmund Prideaux shaped much of its present character, and the Reverend Charles Prideaux-Brune made further changes in the early 19th century. During the Second World War American engineer troops were stationed here before they took part in the D-Day landings.
In 1988 Peter Prideaux-Brune inherited the house from his father and began a long restoration programme that continues today. Visitors see rooms with a notable plaster ceiling, Italian paintings, family portraits, porcelain and memorabilia, and a collection of teddy bears. The armoury contains what the house describes as England's oldest cast iron cannon, and the grounds overlook an ancient deer park.
Highlights
- Elizabethan manor completed in 1592 and still a family home
- Notable plaster ceiling and Italian paintings
- Family portraits, porcelain and a teddy bear collection
- Armoury with an early cast iron cannon
- Gardens and views over the deer park
Permanent exhibition
- Prideaux Place house tour – A guided tour of the Elizabethan manor, with a plaster ceiling, Italian paintings, family portraits, a collection of teddy bears and an armoury.
- Operated by
- Prideaux-Brune family
Admission & discounts
| Adults | £18.50 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | £7.50Children aged 12 to 16 for the house tour; grounds only £3. The website gives no price for younger children. |
| Groups (15+ people) | £16.50 per personGroups of 15 or more on Monday to Friday: £16.50 per person for an English-guided house tour, £18.50 for a tour in another language. |
| Grounds only, adult | £5 |
| Grounds only, child aged 12 to 16 | £3 |
The adult price is for the guided house tour. Private VIP tours and cream teas for up to 10 people can be arranged by appointment.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: no information
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The website gives no access information. Visitors are asked to take care on the steps and archway of the Eastern Gatehouse.
Kids & families
Children aged 12 to 16 have a reduced price; the website gives no price or policy for younger children. The house has a collection of teddy bears.
Getting there & parking
By car
Free parking
Limited free parking is available.
From the A30, take the Wadebridge to Padstow road where signposted; the way to the house is signposted from the A389 in Padstow.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
A tea room and terrace café are open in the grounds on the same days as the gardens.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
The house is offered as a filming location.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | The house can be visited only on a guided tour; there are five tours a day, with the first at 11:00 and the last at 15:00. Individual visitors do not need to book and collect tickets at Reception. German- and French-speaking guides can be provided for groups by prior arrangement. |
