This stone manor house was originally built in 1320 for Sir John de Clevedon, incorporating a tower from the late 12th century and a free-standing hall from the mid-13th century. It was altered considerably by the Wake family in Tudor times. In 1709 the house was bought by Abraham Elton, a wealthy Bristol merchant who was given a baronetcy in 1717. He and his son restored the house, adding a ceiling to the impressive great hall. The exterior is topped by high-pitched roofs and heraldic figures, and the H-plan of the building is visible from the top terrace.

By the 16th century the Arundell family had become well-established and was connected by marriage to nearly all the other landed families in Cornwall.

The status of the family increased through various members gaining good positions at the Royal court. Their legacy is this grand manor on a Cornish scale.

The Arundells inherited Trerice through marriage around 700 years ago. By 1572 John Arundell V had begun building the house we know today. Ten years earlier his income had been boosted by marrying well. Son of the builder of Trerice, Sir John Arundell VI earned the title John for the King due to his role in the Civil War, especially his defence of Pendennis Castle in Falmouth for Charles I.

After the restoration of Charles II, Richard Arundell became Baron Arundell in recognition of the support he and his father had given Charles I. We know little about how the Arundell family lived at Trerice. The Arundell line died out in 1768, and Trerice passed to the Aclands.

It was the marriage of John, 2nd Baron Arundell to Margaret Acland in 1675 that eventually led to the great Devonian family based at Killerton inheriting Trerice. Sir Thomas Dyke Acland never lived at Trerice but often stayed on his political forays into Cornwall. He also used the Great Hall for entertaining.

Initially arriving at Trerice as tenants of its last private owner, the Eltons took on the tenancy from the National Trust in 1953. At his own expense John Elton paid for the repair of the remaining parts of Trerice - and went on to rebuild the fallen north wing. His aim was to create a comfortable family home.