Castle Horneck

Castle Horneck is a grade 2* listed building, and refurbished Georgian mansion to the west of the Cornish town of Penzance. It is currently owned by the Youth Hostels Association (YHA) and has been used as a youth hostel since 1950.ToponymyCastle Horneck derives from Castelhornek in a 1335 manuscript and Kestel Hornek from a 1395 manuscript.HistoryAlso referred to as Castle Hornocke and Iron Castle; it may be the site of a castle, which may have existed, near Penzance. Castle Horneck is said to have been built by the Tyes family in the 12th century, and in the 13th and 14th centuries the Tyes were the Lords of the Manor of Alverton. The first mention of Penzance is in 1284 and the Manor of Alverton was influential in the history and development of the town. In the early 16th-century Thomas Lavelis of Castle Horneck, inherited Trewoofe when he married Joanna, the youngest daughter of John de Trewoofe.Castle Horneck is the ancient home of the Borlase family, and in circa 1720 the front of the house was rebuilt by Dr Walter Borlase. The house was modernised in 1879 with larger windows on the front of the house and annexes built on the east and north. At that time there was extensive grounds with good specimens of giant redwood and the largest hollies in the neighbourhood. In April 1880 the house was leased to the Reverend Franklyn Tonkin, the vicar of Madron.