Just a few miles north of Land’s End, Cape Cornwall is the point at which the Atlantic splits and either makes its way south up the English Channel, or north flowing into the Bristol Channel and Irish Sea.

The magnificent house located at Cape Cornwall was built in 1909 by Captain Francis Oates. Originally from Cornwall, Oates started down Balleswidden Mine at the tender age of just 12 years. He left England to seek his fortune in South Africa and very quickly rose to a senior position at the age of 23. He went on to eventually succeed Cecil Rhodes as Chairman of De Beers, before returning to his beloved Cornwall and commissioning the construction of Porthledden House.  Following his death, his family made attempts to run the house as a hotel, however were eventually forced to sell, to pay death duties. At one time Captain Oates had been the proud owner of the entire Cape Cornwall.