Veryan Roundhouses

About Veryan Roundhouses

Veryan’s roundhouses—five thatched gems tucked into the Roseland Peninsula—wink at Cornwall’s cunning past. Built in the 1810s by Reverend Jeremiah Trist, these unique dwellings defy traditional design. Their soft, curved shapes were crafted with intention: no sharp corners where the devil might hide, a trick whispered through generations. It’s an old superstition, much like pictures hung askew to confuse bad spirits. Crosses still crown each peak, standing guard above thick cob walls that have held firm through storms and time.

These curious homes remain unlisted in most guidebooks, yet they carry the charm and enigma of historic Cornwall. Their very presence speaks of quiet resilience and wit—part shelter, part legend. Wander Veryan’s narrow lanes, where seagulls echo overhead and distant tides whisper just out of view, and you’ll sense that the roundhouses still breathe.

Today, these circular cottages spark conversation and admiration alike. Local folklore lingers in their thatch, and villagers still smile at Trist’s clever dodge against darkness. Walk the path that winds past them, take a photograph, feel the subtle rhythm of life that pulses through this stretch of the South Cornish coast. These aren’t just buildings—they’re stories in stone and straw.

There’s no grim dogma here—just moments: hydrangeas blooming around garden gates, cannons watching quietly from Pendennis Castle across the water, and winds that carry a sense of place. Stay a while in Veryan’s hidden nooks, sketch the gentle curves of a roundhouse, and let its whimsical form guide your thoughts. The roundhouses’ soul is their quirk—a perfect expression of Cornwall’s light-hearted defiance, keeping shadows away through beauty and belief.