8 And 9, Quay Street

Nos 8 and 9 Quay Street, Lostwithiel

A pair of houses incorporating substantial remains of the Great Hall of the Duchy Palace, later used as the Stannary Prison. The building dates principally from the early-to-mid 18th century but preserves structural elements from the late 13th century Great Hall. It has undergone mid-19th century alterations and additions, with further changes in the 20th century.

The building is constructed of slatestone and granite rubble with granite and Pentewan stone dressings; the front right wing is faced in artificial stone (20th century). The roof is covered in asbestos slate, hipped over the main range and over the front wings.

The Great Hall originally ran on a north-south axis. The front wall of the left wing, the south wall, and the rear (west) wall all appear to be of late 13th century construction. The north wall, serving as a party wall with the Convocation Hall, is also of this period. The 18th century structure adopted a U-plan configuration with two front wings, and likely originally featured a central entrance with principal rooms to right and left, plus smaller rooms in each front wing. The stair to the rear left may retain its original position.

The main range rises three storeys, with a three-storey wing to the left and a two-storey wing to the right. At ground floor, the main range features a single chamfered granite light of eight panes, a 20th century 12-pane light, and a half-glazed door with timber lintel, possibly the original 18th century main entrance. The right side of the main range (part of No 9) has four-pane sashes at ground and first floor. At first floor to the left are a blocked window and two 12-pane sashes with granite lintels, with three single lights under the eaves, formerly barred. The front left wing is deeply chamfered at its inner corner and has a blocked arched doorway to the front, probably formerly part of the Great Hall. Its inner side features a half-glazed door and 20th century window at ground floor, two 12-pane sashes with granite lintels at first floor, and two similar eight-pane single lights at second floor with granite surrounds. The right wing, faced in 20th century artificial stone, has a half-glazed door to its inner side; its front shows a four-pane sash at ground floor and a four-pane sash with sidelights at first floor.

A passage with a flat arch on the left side leads to the rear courtyard. At ground floor to the right is a single light with 20th century glazing. The rear contains a two-storey addition of mid-19th century date with hipped roof to the rear of No 9, featuring two four-pane sashes at first floor and 20th century windows and a door at ground floor. A small single-storey addition, probably of early 19th century date in rubble, stands to the right, raised to the right side probably in the early 20th century with a gable end. The first floor of the main range has a two-light casement with granite lintel set in a deep recess; at second floor is a single light with granite surround under the eaves. Over the left side passage, the front wall has been rebuilt above the arch, though the rear wall extends unbroken, with an irregular joint partly rebuilt in brick over the southern side of the arch. The passage itself was probably created in the 18th century.

Interior features of No 8 include the blocked entrance in the front left wing with an opposing rear doorway (said to have been arched) and a granite floor. In the rear wall is a wide chamfered segmental arch in Pentewan stone with a possible oven recess to the left; the arch contains a chamfered granite mullion set centrally, probably added for additional support when 18th century alterations were made. The front left wing contains two fireplaces in the end wall at ground floor, three at first floor, and one at second floor. To the rear left is a winder stair, rebuilt, rising to second floor level, possibly originally a service stair. The ground floor of the front wing has rough-hewn ceiling beams. A free-standing fireplace in the rear of the main range room creates a lateral passage between the fireplace and the rear wall.

At first floor, two rooms in the main range are separated by a passage along the rear. These rooms feature doors of double thickness, studded, with wide strap hinges hung directly on the pintles. At second floor, a further studded door opens to the main range room where Stannary prisoners were housed. At second floor, the upper part of the walls and ceiling are boarded, with planks fixed by nails. Two fireplaces occupy the rear wall. The roof appears to have been rebuilt in the 19th century, with straight principal rafters lapped at the apices and collars nailed to the faces of the principals.

The interior of No 9 was not inspected.

The Duchy Palace comprised a group of buildings of which Nos 8 and 9 Quay Street formed an integral part. Despite later alterations, they remain significant as part of this group, with the second-floor windows providing evidence of their 18th century function as a prison. Prior to this, Stannary prisoners were likely kept in another building within the Duchy Palace complex, which also contained a weighing house and blowing house.