Lezant Between Churches, Manor Houses and the Tamar Valley

Lezant combines impressive traces of medieval history with a landscape along the River Tamar. This makes it a varied destination for planning your trip: you can explore churches, chapels, manor houses and a historic bridge, while also taking in the landscape of the Tamar Valley. A holiday apartment or holiday cottage in Lezant provides a suitable base for combining culture and rural impressions at your own pace.

Church history in the village centre and surrounding area

A prominent landmark is the Church of St Briocus, a Grade II* listed parish church in the centre of Lezant village. The old Norman church was extended in the 14th and 15th centuries. The history of St Briochus also includes the fact that the parish church was first dedicated to St Briochus on 25 September 1259. The tower of St Briochus was built in 1480. Anyone interested in architectural history will therefore find several traces from different periods in a single church building.

St Mary Magdalene's Chapel at Trecarrell also preserves remarkable details. Its features include an original wagon roof, a carved roof boss and three tracery windows. The chapel also contains the remains of an older medieval chapel, which was mentioned in a document in 1383. It is one of the best-preserved chapels in Cornwall and retains many of its original features. Despite Trecarrell's private nature, group visits can be arranged by prior appointment.

Trecarrell and historic architectural forms

Trecarrell Manor is a Grade I listed manor house dating from the early 16th century. Particularly distinctive is Trecarrell's medieval hall: it survives as a covered 16th-century building with original arched roof trusses. In Cornwall, it is considered a rare, complete and significant example of its kind. This makes it possible to create a varied stay for families with different interests: younger travellers can look for striking architectural features, while the history offers older children and adults plenty to discuss about earlier ways of living and residential life.

Other historical points of interest include the Lezant parish war memorial, which commemorates 15 men and their sacrifice. The Holy Well at Rezare is also something special. The medieval holy well is housed in a small stone building above a well basin. It is built into the side of a slope; the basin is located in a well chamber, above which a well house was constructed. The well continues to serve its function as a well.

River Tamar, Greystone Bridge and the Tamar Valley

The River Tamar marks the eastern boundary of the parish of Lezant. Part of the parish lies within the Tamar Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The landscape therefore complements the area's historical themes without requiring you to limit yourself to just one type of excursion. The quarry faces at Greystone Quarry are designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest because of their geological features.

Greystone Bridge lies partly in Lezant and crosses the River Tamar. The Grade I listed road bridge dates from 1439 and was repaired at a later date. Its location and age make it another specific point of reference for exploring the parish. The main access route to Lezant is the A388 between Launceston and Callington. Take this road into account when choosing your accommodation and planning days on which you would like to combine different focuses.

Lezant as a base for a varied trip

When choosing accommodation in Lezant, you can make the desired character of your trip the focus: historic buildings and ecclesiastical architecture, the landscape along the Tamar or regional dining. Tre Pol & Pen offers a farm shop and a restaurant, complementing the cultural and landscape experiences with a culinary destination. This leaves room both for a day spent exploring architectural history in depth and for a more leisurely discovery of the surrounding area.

Further destinations to choose from: Bodmin, Constantine, St Kew, Sennen, Lansallos, Luckett, Lanivet and St Agnes.

For the higher-level travel overview: Cornwall.