Treloyhan Manor occupies a site of unique beauty and charm overlooking the blue waters of St. Ives Bay, Cornwall. It was built in 1892 by Sir Edward Hain, the well-known shipping magnate, as his private residence; and every feature of the mansion and its magnificent grounds speaks eloquently of the loving care and forethought which he lavished upon its design.

The mansion is constructed of the finest Cornish cut granite quarried from the hillside at Castle-an-Dinas, about three miles from Penzance. Though substantially and solidly built, the bold front gable chimneys, steeply pitched roofs and large bay windows lent it an appearance of lightness and grace not always met with in domestic buildings of its period. The main doorway on the western side is a notable feature, the stonework being very finely carved. Within, the rich oak paneled hall, the broad central staircase and, above all, the spacious, airy, well-proportioned rooms are the things which immediately impress the visitor on arrival. The architect was Mr. Silvanus Trevail, another example of whose work may be seen in the Board School at the Stennack; whilst the contractors were Messrs. Lang & Son who built the St. Ives branch railway, the West Pier and the Smeaton’s Pier extension.

The name “Treloyhan” has been variously interpreted as “the habitation in the grove” (cf. Welsh “trewellyn”), and “place of calves” (from the Cornish “tre-lughyon”) and originates from a small hamlet situated on the main road just north of Carbis Bay. This village lies actually a mile distant from St. Ives, and the road which now connects them – Treloyhan Avenue – is a most beautiful one, passing between the lovely wooded Tregenna and Treloyhan Estates.

When Sir Edward Hain was building the manor, he laid out a fine, tree-lined carriage drive through the grounds, which ran from the lodge gate at the northen end of the estate, around the front of the mansion, and so out to the main road again near the outskirts of Carbis Bay. The carriage house and stables were situated near the opening of Love Lane. A familiar sight in the eighteen-nineties was that of the dark-bearded Sir Edward Hain being driven from Treloyhan in a four-wheeled open carriage and pair to his shipping office at St. Ives, a pleasant, tree-shaded manor house which stood on the site of the Post Office in Tregenna Place, by Mitchell, the coachman, wearing a livery of green coat, white breeches, gaiters, fawn topcoat and box hat.

Sir Edward’s family remained in possession of Treloyhan until about 1928, when the property was put onto the market, being aquired by a company formed to develop part of the extensive grounds as a building estate, and to convert the mansion into a hotel. The latter was opened on July 1^st, 1930.

This transformation was not effected without some difficulty. The original plans of the building had been lost, and a new set had to be prepared by Mr. T. Harvey, formerly Borough Engineer at Merthyr Tydfil, before the necessary alterations could be carried out. The architect responsible for the work was Mr. P. E. Stephens of Falmouth, the contractor being Mr. James H. Daniel, of St. Ives, a relative of Sir Edward Hain.

The extension consisted of a new north wing, which increased the number of bedrooms from 16 to 47. Great care was taken to ensure that the new portion should harmonise completely with the old, both in design and in regard to the materials employed.

Treloyhan Manor continued in use as a hotel until the Second World War, when between 1941 and 1945 it housed the pupils of Downs School, evacuated from Seaford, Sussex, the distinctive red and blue uniforms of these girls bringing a welcome splash of color to the town in those drab years.

Source: Treloyhan Manor, St. Ives, Cornwall

A Methodist Guild Guest House

A History by Cryil Noall