More information : The Duchy Palace, Quay Street (SX 104 596) Grade II.
Edmund, Earl of Cornwall built a great range of buildings, c 1290,
"to accommodate the county court and stannary offices. There was
a county hall, a 'coinage' hall ... a prison ... and an exchequer."
The buildings were kept in good repair until the 17th c when they
were apparently allowed to fall into decay. "Buck's view of
1734 shows them in ruins, and when the Duchy offices were removed
from the town in 1874, they were sold and further mutilated.
The remains of the coinage hall were converted into a Freemasons'
Lodge in 1878, and are still used for this purpose."
The remains of walls and archways built into adjacent houses show
in some measure the great extent of the whole". (1-3)
The extent of the Duchy Palace is accurately delineated on the
OS 25" 1905 and since then, except for some demolition in the
extreme SW corner, there have been few alterations to the property.
It has been adapted to use as dwellings and warehouses, and the
coinage hall is still the Masonic Lodge. The premises are all
of two storey height, constructed of coursed killas with numerous
granite doorways, window frames etc. Evidently most of the
walling is medieval to 17th century, if not of the 13th century.
Glossed over by Pevsner with the apt remark that "the remains of
the Stannary Court .. have not been sufficiently investigated." (4)
Parts of the Great Hall were covered and used in 19th and early 20th centuries as a slaughter house. Most of the present building is mid 19th century with the main structure of the walls 13th century. Grade II*.
The Freemason's Hall was the Convocation Hall of the Duchy Palace. c. 1280 with later alterations. Alterations and restorations took place in 1878 by the Free Masons. It is much altered internally. Grade I. (5)
A watching Brief at the western end revealed the old quay. (6)
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