A brick house with four towers, on an island of land in the River Lynher

Ince takes its name from the Cornish enys, an island. Henry Killigrew began building here around 1640, in brick, which was a rare thing in a county of granite. For nearly four hundred years the house has looked out over the same tidal water. After the fire of 1988 the house was rebuilt with great care. More recently Ben Pentreath has made some well-considered alterations and redecorated the rooms for us, drawing his colours and patterns both from his own inspired palette and from the house's past.

Today Ince is our family home and a working estate. The land is farmed organically, the kitchen garden feeds the house, and on a handful of days each year we open the gardens to visitors.