In the grand scheme of things, it’s far easier to renovate a run-down house in a glorious setting than it is to change the scenery of a turn-key property. Anyone who has seen Grand Designs knows the perils of earthworks and, chances are, if you try and plant any trees these days, a deer will wander along and eat them all. Deer don’t eat bathroom tiles or kitchen islands.
I bring all this up because I have been alerted to the presence on the market, for the first time in more than 40 years, of Grade II-listed Mine Captains Cottage, which one would assume used to belong to the captain of a mine. With Lillicrap Chilcott for £799,950, the property offers three bedrooms, three bathrooms and just under an acre of gardens and ground. It also comes with the only blowing house still in existence in Cornwall, should you feel like smelting your own tin.
There’s no doubt the interiors could do with some love, but, as mentioned, that’s the easy part. Thankfully, the setting is already taken care of, with the property nestled within the National Trust’s idyllic Godolphin Estate and surrounded by the Trust’s managed woodland. Total peace and tranquillity is almost guaranteed.
The property sits on the northern edge of the village of Godolphin Cross, which offers the holy trinity of a post office, pub and primary school within walking distance. While inland, Mine Captains Cottage is situated equidistant between the north and south coasts of Cornwall, meaning that when the inevitable trip to the beach is required, you can choose depending on which way the wind is blowing.
Credit: Strutt and Parker
Best country houses for sale this week
An irresistible West Country cottage and a magnificent Cumbrian country house make our pick of the finest country houses for
An amazing opportunity to go off grid in the middle of the Northumbrian countryside
This old gamekeeper's cottage on Threpwood Hill near Hexham already has fantastic views and planning permission — all it needs
This 321-acre estate on the southern tip of Wales is a sporting fantasy that needs some love
The Trewern Estate in Pembrokeshire offers shooting, fishing and a decent income from grazing — not to mention an 11,000sq
An oast house within the landscape that gave birth to the National Trust
It was at Toys Hill in Kent that Britain's largest charity came to being and this home holds those ideals
-
Merlins: Britain's smallest bird of prey is a 'swerving, zigzagging, 240mph weighted missile' that's gutsy enough to chase off a golden eagleSize doesn’t matter when it comes to the fighting spirit of the tiny merlin, a fierce parent and favoured hunting accessory of Mary, Queen of Scots.
-
The greatest moment in the life of Jessie Owens: Country Life Quiz of the Day, June 13, 2025Breathtaking athleticism and Shakespeare's birthday are among the questions in the final quiz of the week.
-
Soft tones and a sense of place: A Mayfair duplex that breaks the modern mouldA new designer-led residence at 60 Curzon in Mayfair reminds us that everything new doesn't necessarily have to look it.
-
'The very best North Yorkshire has to offer': The £25 million Kirkham EstateWith 1,103 acres and on the market for the first time in a century, we've got a new frontrunner for the sale of the year.
-
The reality of 20 years of house price rises in Britain, from the places that have had a charmed life to the spots where it's a struggle to move back homeAt first glance the ups and downs of the property market seem to even out over time — but dig in to the numbers and you'll see wild regional variations which paint a very difference picture. Annabel Dixon analyses new research which tells the story.
-
A historic Yorkshire hall, meticulously restored to its former 18th-century magnificenceWomersley Park is a masterpiece and one of Yorkshire's great historic houses. And it could be yours.
-
Rowing past dreams: An idyllic riverside home with a boathouse, croquet pitch and Olympic pedigreeThe Manor in Long Wittenham is a perfect Thames-side getaway. Comes with a free boat.
-
A bucolic Sussex home that's 'like stepping into a fairytale', yet just 30 minutes from central LondonFelmere House is a playground for nature and only 30 minutes from London.
-
Magnificent mansions across the Home Counties, from £3 million to £14 million, as seen in Country LifeA waterside dream home and a house and estate with over 1,100 years of history make our round-up this week.
-
Vibrant colours and exquisite taste make this three-bedroom London townhouse singOn Kennington's West Square, this Grade II-listed home is a monument to the discerning eye.
