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There was some speculation that the whale bones could have belonged to a blue whale which washed up at Mevagissey, Cornwall, in 1647.
The truth was only discovered in December after a hunt through old documents at Cotehele.
It uncovered a copy of a partial inventory of the house’s collection, apparently written by owner William, 4th Earl of Edgcumbe in 1887.
The inventory said that the jawbones came from a 61ft whale that landed on Colona Beach, near Bodrugan, on 2 January 1875.
Acting house and collections manager Nick said: 'Finding the inventory came as a total surprise to our team at Cotehele. It’s great to have finally solved the mystery of Cotehele’s whale bones.'
Whales struggle
Head of nature conservation David Bullock said: 'Since the cessation of industrial whaling, fin whales are making a comeback in the north Atlantic.
'Now, these rare whales are being seen more regularly in the Celtic and Irish seas - chasing the plankton and other small fish northwards as climate change warms the seas.'
Visitors will be able to see the newly identified fin whale bones when Cotehele House reopens on 11 March.
Nick Stokes added: 'We’ll be taking good care of Finella, with the conservation team regularly giving the jawbones a light dusting using a hogs-hair brush.'