THE OLD DUCHY PALACE, LOSTWITHIEL, CORNWALL

The Old Duchy Palace, listed Grade I, lies nestled between shops and houses towards the eastern edge of Lostwithiel. The building evokes a strong sense of buttressed medieval solidity having stood for over seven hundred years. Once part of a much larger complex known as the Palace and Convocation Hall, various fragments have been built into the surrounding properties. The Old Duchy Palace as it stands today is the most visible part of the surviving sections.

The Prince's Regeneration Trust was introduced to the project by the Cornwall Building Preservation Trust (Cornwall BPT) and Cornwall County Council. We purchased it in late 2008 with the aim that through our involvement we can secure funding, and a productive future for the building. We are applying to the Regional Development Agency, English Heritage and Heritage Lottery Fund for funding, though it is highly likely there will still be a heritage funding gap, so any donations would be most gratefully received.

This building may originally have been the kitchen to the Great Hall but at an uncertain later date became the 'stannary' for the assay of Cornish tin, an important political and revenue-generating function reserved to the Duchy of Cornwall. It is, therefore, a building of prime importance in the history of Cornwall and for this reason, as well as its age, is listed Grade I.

In order to identify suitable and viable new uses for the Palace the Cornwall BPT, with advice from us, has tendered for and now appointed consultants to undertake an Options Appraisal. We have also secured pro-bono advice from the distinguished London consultancy of Alan Baxter Associates to undertake a structural and hydrology survey to ascertain the repair costs and any flood risk issues.

Read the Cornwall Life article about the Duchy Palace.