Lostwithiel gains a Town Charter
Its thriving port exports Lostwithiel ware pottery, tin, cured fish, leather and cloth.
Overview
Situated in the heart of Lostwithiel, Old Duchy Palace is a Grade 1 Listed Building, widely regarded as Cornwall’s most important secular historic building.
From 2008-13, the Trust worked with The Prince’s Regeneration Trust to rescue and regenerate this magnificent building. It then took on responsibility for its long-term maintenance and management.
In 2023, the Trust secured funding from UK Shared Prosperity Fund and National Lottery Heritage Fund for works to reduce the carbon footprint of Old Duchy Palace and improve its resilience to climate change. You can find out more about this project here.
Key Information
Year Constructed: Begun 1292
Location: Lostwithiel
CBPT Involvement: 2008 – Now, Preservation and Management
Current Use: Business and Retail Space
Open to Public: Expected to re-open late Spring 2026, meanwhile please view via the Virtual Tour
Opening Hours:
Winter: Temporarily closed for upgrading works.
Summer: Temporarily closed for upgrading works.
The History
1193
1201
A Royal Charter confirms Lostwithiel as a "Stannary Town"
and the town becomes an important centre for tin in Cornwall.
1201
1268
The County Court and Assize courts are moved to Lostwithiel from Launceston.
Lostwithiel becomes the administrative capital of Cornwall.
1292
Work begins on the Great Hall of Lostwithiel under the direction of Edmund Earl of Cornwall.
This building subsequently becomes the Duchy Palace.
1292
1337
The Earldom of Cornwall becomes the Duchy of Cornwall.
The Black Prince is made 1st Duke of Cornwall and decides to make Lostwithiel the Duchy Headquarters.
1350 – 1400:
An Exchequer Hall (now known as Old Duchy Palace) was added to the east of the Great Hall
Read more about this in Further Readings
1350 – 1400:
1642 - 1646
The Lostwithiel area is the site of two battles during the English Civil War.
The Duchy Palace complex is targeted by Parliamentarians because of its Royal connections.
1878
The Old Duchy Palace is bought by Freemasons and converted into a Masonic Lodge.
Masonic Hall in 2008, Eric Berry
1878
2009
The Prince’s Regeneration Trust purchase the Old Duchy Palace and conservation work begins.
2013
Cornwall Buildings Preservation Trust takes a 25 year lease to run and maintain the Old Duchy Palace.
2013
A five-year long project
The Old Duchy Palace (also known as Lostwithiel Stannary Palace) was built in the mid-14th century, as part of the administrative headquarters of the Duchy of Cornwall estate; now it is the only surviving remnant of a complex that occupied 2 acres.
You can read the full history of the Old Duchy Palace report by Eric Berry here.
CBPT negotiated public sector funding to enable the freeholder to carry out remedial works including grants from the Architectural Heritage Fund, English Heritage, local Councils, and the European Regional Development Fund. UKHBPT brought in private funding from various sources, the largest private donor being the Eva and Hans Rausing Trust.
Conservation and upgrading work
Because of its Grade 1 listing, very careful attention was given to conserving original fabric and special features. To inform the repairs, several specialist studies were commissioned – for example dating of the roof timbers and a review of the Masonic symbols and décor. The main roof structure was found to date from 1620; it was conserved and strengthened. New energy-saving insulation was installed and the roof then recovered with Cornish slate.
The building required comprehensive repairs from top to bottom. It also needed new services designed to meet modern standards in line with Building Research Establishment guidance on environmental sustainability.
Mortar analysis by the Cornish Lime Company enabled sympathetic repairs to the masonry and provided training opportunities in the use of lime. In the first floor hall, the Masonic furniture was removed but features such as the ‘all seeing eye’ and stained glass were conserved. Below ground archaeology was investigated by means of a trial pit in the basement undercroft. During the works, a detailed record was made by Cornwall Council’s archaeological unit.
The architects for the job were Purcell, Miller Tritton and the main contractor was Carrek. The building was officially re-opened by the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall on 17 July 2013.
Maintaining Old Duchy Palace for the Future
Looking after Old Duchy Palace is not without its challenges. There is a Maintenance Plan to ensure that regular checks are carried out – for example to the fire precautions and electrical systems. Keeping the basement undercroft well ventilated is also important – especially when the building is closed – like during Covid. And we have had to develop methods of responding to the flood alerts that sometimes occur in this part of Lostwithiel.
In 2020-21, with the help of a grant from the government’s Culture Recovery Fund, we used the period of Covid closure to tackle an unexpected outbreak of dry rot. During damp investigative work downstairs in the undercroft in 2019, the 6-year-old engineered oak floorboards began to dish along the west wall of the main hall. Upon lifting the boards, extensive dry rot was discovered.
Temperature and humidity testing found that the floor void had a much higher relative humidity than the air within the room and surface of the walls, which provided a good indication that condensation was occurring within the floor void.
Issues with the engineered floor had first been identified in 2014, soon after completion of the previous works. Remedial cutting back of the floorboards from the walls took place that year, but unfortunately the cause of the expansion was not identified at the time.
Listed Building Consent for emergency remedial works to assess, treat and replace the decayed floor was granted in November 2020. Following conversations with Historic England and Cornwall Council, it was decided that solid oak floorboards should be used for the replacement floor to the main hall. More ventilation was introduced and the central heating pipework was re-routed to help reduce the likelihood of the problem recurring. These works were successfully completed in the summer of 2021.
New Use & Virtual Tour
CBPT sublets Old Duchy Palace for business use. In our new virtual tour below, you will be able to explore the fascinating details of this important building while it was the home for an antique shop.
This means that the building can be freely accessed during working hours; information boards in each room help people to understand the building’s history and importance.
Please note that Old Duchy Palace is temporarily closed for upgrading works and is expected to later in 2026.
Stories about Old Duchy Palace
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tonia2024-07-03 08:53:372026-03-06 11:14:52Take a virtual tour of Old Duchy Palace!
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tonia2024-03-29 11:50:382024-09-13 13:38:39Conserving Our Heritage for a Sustainable Future
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tonia2023-10-27 11:56:352024-05-21 07:43:01The Stannary History of Old Duchy PalaceFurther Readings & Useful Links
Convocation Hall (Duchy Palace) Lostwithiel Historic Building Report – Eric Berry
Masonic Interventions: The Old Duchy Palace Masonic Hall – Dr Charlotte MacKenzie
Dendrochronological Analysis of Oak Timbers, Scientific Dating Report – Ian Tyers, English Heritage
Lostwithiel ‘the fairest of small cities’ Historic Characterisation Assessment – Historic Environment Service, Cornwall Council
The Duchy Palace: Historic building record and archaeological watching brief – Historic Environment Service, Cornwall Council
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