A five-bedroom West Country house with a heart of glass — and it's just down the road from one of the Cornwall's finest beaches
Fernbank in St Agnes is a veritable cabinet of curiosities. We're a fan.


Considering how often we spend underneath them, I’m not sure we spend enough time looking at, or noticing, ceilings. Lots of time spent staring at walls, a lot less time looking at ceilings. At least in my case.
One place where you will struggle not to notice the ceilings is a home in St Agnes, Cornwall, called Fernbank. Recently remodelled, extended and spread over 2,800sq ft, it is a glorious five-bedroom home in one of north Cornwall’s best towns. It also has some strange ceilings. It's for sale with Lillicrap Chilcott for £1.35 million.
First and foremost, a lot of the rooms in this semi-detached house don’t actually have ceilings. Well, not in the traditional sense. Glass is king here and I would reckon that at least 50% of the roof area on this property is glass. This is obviously great for letting lots of light in and appreciating the splendid weather (when it occurs).
And then there is whatever is going on in here. I am not sure how to describe this ceiling other than ‘quite silvery’. I suppose the reflective nature of whatever material it is will also enhance the light. It’s also a good conversation starter for any visitors — as is the giant fire, huge picture window, and the decision to furnish a very large room with a table that seems to have been burgled from a Lilliputian house. Ours is not to reason why.
The property is rather fun and I have to say that I like it. Lots of soft colours throughout, styled tastefully and I like the wood clad exterior. It’s set over two floors, with all the reception rooms (conservatory, living room, kitchen/dining room, secondary kitchen and snug) on the ground floor. There’s also a guest annexe.
St Agnes is a popular tourist destination just southwest of Newquay and is bursting with amenities. And the beach is not too far either. A real gem in the heart of Cornwall.
Sign up for the Country Life Newsletter
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
Credit: Marcus Newey
Georgian precision and symmetry with eight bedrooms in one of Somerset's best villages
The Wash presents itself perfectly in this Special Landscape Area, and has lashings of amenities on its doorstep to keep
It's not all glass and horror: Two of London's latest luxury apartments show us that good taste and sensitive design still reign supreme
The restoration of The Whiteley department store continues apace, while new apartments at 60 Curzon are sympathetic complements to the

James Fisher is the Deputy Digital Editor of Country Life. He writes about property, travel, motoring and things that upset him. He lives in London.
-
Athena: We need to get serious about saving our museums
The government announced that museums ‘can now apply for £20 million of funding to invest in their future’ last week. But will this be enough?
By Country Life Published
-
Six rural properties with space, charm and endless views, as seen in Country Life
We take a look at some of the best houses to come to the market via Country Life in the past week.
By Toby Keel Published
-
Six rural properties with space, charm and endless views, as seen in Country Life
We take a look at some of the best houses to come to the market via Country Life in the past week.
By Toby Keel Published
-
380 acres and 90 bedrooms on the £25m private island being sold by one of Britain's top music producers
Stormzy, Rihanna and the Rolling Stones are just a part of the story at Osea Island, a dot on the map in the seas off Essex.
By Lotte Brundle Published
-
A home cinema, tasteful interiors and 65 acres of private parkland hidden in an unassuming lodge in Kent
North Lodge near Tonbridge may seem relatively simple, but there is a lot more than what meets the eye.
By James Fisher Published
-
A rare opportunity to own a family home on Vanbrugh Terrace, one of London's finest streets
This six-bedroom Victorian home sits right on the start line of the London Marathon, with easy access to Blackheath and Greenwich Park.
By James Fisher Published
-
A tale of everyday life as lived on Britain's most expensive street
Winnington Road in Hampstead has an average house price of £11.9 million. But what's it really like? Lotte Brundle went to find out.
By Lotte Brundle Last updated
-
Damon Hill's former home in Marbella is the perfect place to slow down
The glorious Andalusian-style villa is found within the Lomas de Marbella Club and just a short walk from the beach.
By James Fisher Published
-
A 327-acre estate in the heart of 'England’s Côte d’Or', with a 26,000sq ft Georgian style home at its heart
Stokes Hall in the Crouch Valley is an inspiring property looking for a new owner.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
Schreiber House, 'the most significant London townhouse of the second half of the 20th century', is up for sale
The five-bedroom Modernist masterpiece sits on the edge of Hampstead Heath.
By Lotte Brundle Published