One of the largest grants ever awarded by English Heritage - £879,000 - has helped bring the restoration of Godolphin House in Cornwall to a successful conclusion after three years of painstaking repair and conservation.

Godolphin House was built of Cornish granite by the Godolphin family with the fortune they made from tin mining. The restoration work included tying together massive granite walls using high tech criss-crossing steel ties. Traditioonal earth and lime mortars were used for repointing.

It was started in the 15th century and continually added to until it had more than 100 bedrooms by the 17th century, although after that large parts of the house were demolished. Unusually, it has remained almost unaltered in the 20th century, which makes it of such important historic interest.

The restoration work has revealed rooms and features previously too perilous for public view.

The house is privately owned by Joanna Schofield, whose family bought it in 1936. It is open to the public and 12 paid members of staff supported by 30 volunteers keep the house, restaurant, shop and Cornwall\'s oldest formal garden running.

English Heritage have also made one of their biggest grants yet to the North of England - £450,000 - to help fund repairs at the 14th century Sheriff Hutton Castle near York. The five-month scheme is tackling the problem of falling masonry at the fortress once owned by Richard III.

The current work, being carried out by masons HPR Ltd, is concentrating on the north-east tower, which is more than 30m high. The castle\'s other three towers will also need stabilising and the castle\'s owner, Dr Howarth, is discussing this with English Heritage.

Keith Emerick, the English Heritage inspector for ancient monuments in Yorkshire, says the current work presents a unique opportunity to learn more about the castle\'s construction.