Mount Edgcumbe House is looking for volunteers to show visitors around its 16th buildings.

The former home of the Earls of Mount Edgcumbe was built on the Rame Peninsula in the 1500s and was restored after World War Two.

It is now jointly owned by Cornwall Council and Plymouth City Council.

Volunteers are now need to work with the stewards to help bring the historic building to life for its visitors.

As well as giving visitors plenty of information about its origins, via its stewards, Mount Edgcumbe offers family-friendly activities, exhibitions and audio-visual material.

Volunteers play an essential part in allowing the stewards to give talks and tours, as well as develop the Tudor costume room, exhibitions and children’s trails in the house.

In 2009 Mount Edgcumbe underwent an extensive programme of work that saw the old sawmill, wheelwright’s shop and a bat cam room (where visitors can view Lesser Horseshoe bats in their nursery roost) brought to life within the Barrow Park Centre.

This is an area close to the house that historically was the domain of the Mount Edgcumbe estate workers. These workshops have been brought to life with machinery, information and audio-visual displays and volunteers are also need to help visitors understand and enjoy this area.

Kate Johnson, curator, said: “Having volunteers adds a lot to Mount Edgcumbe. It is lovely to have people giving their time and sharing their skills because they care, are interested and get something out of it for themselves. This feels very worthwhile and really helps us to do more for our visitors.”

She added that previous knowledge about Mount Edgcumbe’s history was not need, but being interested, reliable and happy working as a team was essential.

For more information call 01752 822236 or email kate.johnson@plymouth.gov.uk