Market Building, Penzance

Market House, Penzance
West elevation of The Market House
Alternative names	Lloyds Bank
General information
Location	Penzance Cornwall
Current tenants	Lloyds Bank (since 1925)
Construction started	11 July 1836
Inaugurated	28 June 1838
Client	Corporation of Penzance
Owner	Lloyds Bank (since 1965)
Design and construction
Architect	William Harris of Bristol
Awards and prizes	Grade I listed building

The Market House in Penzance is a Grade I listed building situated at the top of Market Jew Street, Penzance. The Market House was completed in 1838, originally to house a market in the western half of the building and the guildhall in the east. The basement below the guildhall originally contained cells for prisoners, while the first floor was used as a grammar school from 1867 to 1898. The upper storey of the western end housed the Corn Exchange which also served a dual purpose as a theatre. It was officially opened on 28 June 1838. The western part of the building is occupied by Lloyds Bank while the rest of the building is unused and in need of repair.

The Corporation of Penzance organised an architectural competition for the building of a new market house on the site of the original. Originally H J Whiting of London was awarded the contract to build the new market house but sued for damages when the Corporation decided to use plans by the Bristol architect William Harris instead. Local councils were subject to increasing Government control by the passing of the 1835 Municipal Corporations Act and it was decided to use a cheaper scheme — Whiting won compensation worth £300. Samuel Teulon was one of the unsuccessful architects.

The foundation stone was laid on 11 July 1836 and the building was opened on the day of Queen Victoria's Coronation, 28 June 1838. Built from granite ashlar, the building is crowned by a lead-covered dome and octagonal lantern which is visible from much of the town, and from neighbouring villages. The eastern end consists of four ionic columns with a portico known as tetrastyle and overlooks a main thoroughfare (once the A30) of Penzance and a statue of Humphry Davy.