Probus

The granite tower of St Probus’s and St Grace’s Parish Church is the tallest and grandest in all of Cornwall at 125 feet high. The saints to whom it is dedicated are also unusual, in that they were husband and wife. During renovation, male and female skulls were discovered buried near the altar, and it is thought that they were of the two saints.

Just to the west of the village lies a place that will be of great interest to gardeners - Trewithen House and Gardens. Built in the 1730’s by Philip Hawkins, this early Georgian house, whose name literally means ‘house of the trees’, is filled with paintings, furniture and other artefacts collected over the years by the Hawkins family. At the front of the house there is a small museum housing a number of historical curios - including the only full set of horse boots in Cornwall. Horse boots were made of leather and were worn to stop hooves cutting up the lawn whilst it was being cut. Though Trewithen House is itself worth a visit, most people come to see the gardens. These gardens covering some 30 acres, were created in the early years of the last century, are outstanding and internationally famous. They are renowned for their magnificent 24 Champion Trees and rare species of flowering shrubs, among them magnolias and rhododendrons, and a notable camellia collection that includes x williamsii, a cross between camellia saluensis and camellia japonica.