The history of Antony

Expert curated

Visitors looking into the pond in the garden at Antony, Cornwall — Visitors looking into the pond in the garden at Antony | © National Trust Images/John Millar

Antony House in Cornwall was built in the 1720s on land owned by the Carew family since the 15th century. Situated on the river Lynher, close to the port of Plymouth, the wider estate, house and collections tell the story of this influential Cornish family who had roles both at parliament and in the military. To this day, the Carew Pole family still live in this family home filled with their collections.

Early History

Antony’s setting takes advantage of sweeping vistas down to the estuary of the River Lynher. Once a medieval settlement, the manor of East Antony was inherited by Alexander Carew (d. 1492) from his mother, Joan Courtenay. He was the first member of the family to move there in 1465. The parish of Antony is named after the Saint and called ‘Antone’ in the Domesday book of 1086. Carew’s early house was located east or north-east of the current house and was surrounded by kitchen gardens, malt and brewhouses and farm buildings. Four generations later in 1620, the antiquary Richard Carew (1555–1620) in his Survey of Cornwall, particularly noted Antony’s fishpond ingeniously designed to cater for both freshwater fish from the stream, and saltwater fish from the sea.

Sir William Carew and Anne Coventry: The builders of Antony

The house that stands at Antony today was built by William Carew, 5th Baronet, (1689–1744). His advantageous marriage in 1713 to Anne Coventry (1695/6–c. 1733), only daughter and heir of Gilbert Coventry, 4th Earl of Croome, brought much of the finance to enable this work. William’s inheritance was made up of both land ownership and the commercial investments in overseas trade made by his father. In 1718, work started on the main house at Antony and a carved shell above the north front door with the date 1721 likely marks the completion of construction. The formal, four-square house is made of locally quarried Pentewan stone which shines silver on a bright day. Surviving bills show that the interior was made ready with new painting, glazing for the windows and wainscoting paid for ahead of the family moving in between 1724–5.

The entrance Hall at Antony House showing the staircase, three arches, stained oak panelling and paintings — The entrance hall at Antony House | © National Trust Images/Andreas von Einsiedel

Reginald Pole-Carew

William and Anne’s son, Coventry Carew (1716–48), died only four years after inheriting Antony. With no sons of his own, the estate transferred to a different branch of the Carew family, eventually passing to Reginald Pole (1753–1835), a relation through the female line of the 3rd Baronet. He adopted the surname Pole-Carew but did not move to Cornwall until at least 1781 after a fashionable Grand Tour of Europe.

Reginald was Member of Parliament for Fowey for many years, though he appeared to find political life tiresome, writing to his brother that he found it, “as adverse to health as inconsistent with all domestic comfort.” He devoted his time to both developing the house and collection at Antony, as well as being instrumental in developing the nearby town of Torpoint. Along with the Earl of Mount Edgcumbe, he inaugurated the Torpoint Ferry which connected Torpoint – and Antony – much more conveniently to the port of Plymouth. It also provided greater access to global trade in luxury goods and onward journeys more directly into Cornwall.

Time spent abroad on the Grand Tour developed Reginald’s interest for collecting and admiring art. He amassed a substantial collection of prints by Rembrandt van Rijn, which were sold after his death and now reside in many public collections including the British Museum. Reginald also developed a friendship with local artist Joshua Reynolds, a founding member of the Royal Academy of Arts.

The garden also became a focus for Reginald, who sought to make improvements by commissioning the landscape designer Humphrey Repton in 1792 to produce one of his famous ‘Red Books’ proposals. Reginald wrote of his excitement at receiving it, “I was up to twelve at night and could not go to sleep until I thoroughly examined the treasure you put in my hands.” Despite this initial enthusiasm, only parts of Repton’s suggested scheme were executed.

Burmese Temple Bell in the garden at Antony, Cornwall | © National Trust Images/Sophie Bolesworth

19th-century changes

William Henry Pole-Carew (1811–88) and his son Reginald Pole-Carew (1849–1924) shaped Antony’s history in the 19th century. William Henry was MP for East Cornwall and, like a long line of family before him, active in wider Cornish affairs. He made some adjustments to the house, adding the port-cochère entrance to the front that greets visitors today. The addition of a wing to the east, accommodating more rooms for servants and visitors is perhaps an indicator of both William Henry’s social activities and the growing staff needed to run an increasingly busy estate. He also supported the building of nearby Maryfield schoolhouse and the Church of St Philip and St James for his tenants and local community.

William Henry’s son, Reginald (1849–1924), also had a big impact on Antony despite being away for much of his tenure. Reginald served in the Coldstream guards, joining as a young ensign in 1869 and becoming Major General by the time he retired. Reginald fought in many colonial conflicts during this time including the Anglo-Afghan Wars (1839–42, 1878–80, 1919) and the Anglo-Burmese Wars (1824–26, 1852, 1885), during which Britain extended its territories in Afghanistan and Myanmar (then known as Burma).

Colonial collections

During these conflicts, Reginald took works of art and shipped them back to Antony where they are still on display. In Afghanistan, he took 31 pieces of Gandharan sculpture, likely from buildings or temples in the hills near Swat and Bajaur, dating from about AD 1–6 and depicting Buddhist subjects with naturalistic ornamentation. In Myanmar, Pole-Carew took a large bell from a temple that is now displayed as a focal point at the end of one of the garden’s avenues. The taking or ‘looting’ of works of art during war has played a continuous part in the history of military and state expansion. Often considered the ‘spoils of war’, many objects were shipped back to England, ultimately divorcing them from their original setting and cultural context. These items remain in the ownership of the Carew Pole family, on display at Antony.

Despite long periods of absence, Reginald found time to make significant changes to Antony in line with the latest Victorian styles and needs. In the garden he restored parterres and developed 27 separate gardens with 400 yards of flower beds and herbaceous borders. He added a whole new wing, this time in red brick, to the east of the house, though it was ultimately short lived. It was largely pulled down and substantially remodeled less than 40 years later by his son Sir John Carew Pole (1902–93).

Inheritance from Shute Barton

Sir John inherited Antony and, a few years later, the ancient baronetcy of the Pole family of Shute. This title brought him the Shute Barton estate near Axminster in Devon along with its fine library founded by the 17th-century antiquarian William Templar Pole. Numerous family portraits also came from Shute Barton and now adorn the walls of Antony including works by Thomas Hudson and a group portrait of the de la Pole children by Thomas Beach, showing Shute Barton in the background.

Conical water fountain in the garden at Antony House, Cornwall | © National Trust Images/James Dobson

American influence

The family’s collections were further supplemented in the 20th century by Sir John’s marriage to Cynthia Burns (1908–77), the great niece of American financier J.P. Morgan. Her inherited collection of 18th-century ceramics and furniture, some from J.P. Morgan’s own collection, came to Antony from her family home at North Mymms Park, Hertfordshire. Evocative portraits of Cynthia and her family by the artist Oswald Birley are displayed on the first floor of the house.

Antony today

The National Trust acquired Antony in 1961 along with 29 acres of the estate. The CarewPole family live in Antony to this day and most of the collection on display is on loan from them. In the same tradition as their ancestors, the family have continued to develop the house and gardens and have added to its collection, commissioning works of art from leading British contemporary artists, including painter Christopher Le Brun and sculptor William Pye.