Part of the
Acorn Archive
Penzance,
Cornwall
Architecture
and Heritage
Market Place
In Penzance, there are a handful of very old buildings
that have survived; unfortunately they have been
adapted and altered over the years, as well as having new
shopfronts;
old chimneys have been removed and changed, new roofing
treatments and finishes.
Even a dated stone is not necessarily proof of date of
the specific building,
as they were fitted again after re-building, and not
necessarily from the building on which they are now placed.
The history of a building can be seen in its stonework,
bedding and pointing.
It is also a matter of being familiar with techniques and
details.
The age of photography has greatly assisted in dating
later features and buildings,
if some awareness is applied.
When buildings have been stuccoed or rendered, there is
no easy way to date buildings
with any certainty, unless documents are provided,
or evidence is found in quite simple records, such as
Census occupancy.
At Market Place, one 17th century chimney
stack remains.
One of the most remarkable shops was Richard Chirgwins.
The frontage was an amazing spread of glass, with art
nouveau glazing bars, curves and different levels,
beautifully set and formed granite base and inviting
doorways.
And the lettering in Gold.
The building replaced the existing group of Richard
Chirgwins and Clarke’s Library
which had both replaced an earlier building not long
previously.
The shop and building were demolished in 1960, replaced
with the very worst of buildings.
Thankfully this has now been replaced by Wetherspoons;
School Report : “Pass mark achieved” with the caveat at
the bottom “but could do better”.
One building
(as well as Market House/Lloyds Bank on which I will set
aside a few pages)
which merits a lot of attention (and needs some
attention)
is Number 3, the Devon & Cornwall Bank
Built 1889
Designed by James Hicks of Redruth.
I can remember the building being used by The National
Farm Industries,
then an Estate Agent, and Photo Kine and now it is
Holland & Barratt.
The entrance door used to be on the left hand side.
This is one of the better and more sensitive treatments
of shop fronts.
A double column of Scottish Red Granite
Well designed, well ordered, and well detailed.
A perfect example of how not to look after a
building.
Built c1850 for Samuel York, Draper
he married Jane Coulson, daughter of Henry Coulson
More on that family can be found on the page concerning
The National School & Coulson’s Granary.
Raymond
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