Market House

Market House was completed in 1838 to the designs of Harris of Bristol. It is a large domed granite building; the dome, with its octagonal lantern, can be seen from miles around. Located on the town's main thoroughfare, Market Jew Street, the building reflects Penzance's history as the market town for West Penwith (Market Jew is derived from the Cornish Margas Yow, meaning Thursday Market). The building’s size and grandeur reflects a town which amassed significant wealth exporting tin and copper, and which became an important trading port. In 1867, the council chambers moved to a new building, with the eastern portion of the building being used variously to house the Penzance grammar school and then small retail units. This portion of the building has now been vacant for over 10 years. In 1925, Lloyds moved into the west portion of the building, where it remains today. The building was purchased by Penzance Regeneration Company Limited (PZRC) in August 2022.

PZRC was established to assist, promote, encourage, develop and secure the regeneration of the social, physical and economic environment of Penzance and Newlyn. The initial activities of PZRC are to deliver the development of four specific projects, for which funding has been secured through Towns Deal and Future High Streets funds; the Market House is the landmark Towns Deal project. The project aims to renovate and bring the east side of Market House back into use, with the west occupied by Lloyds as a tenant. The first and upper floor will house a food hub accommodating three street food providers and 59 covers. The lower floor will house a town hub, including hotdesking and office space for a number of local organisations.

In 2022, the AHF awarded PZRC a Project Development Grant, which will enable the group to develop the project to RIBA 2, thereby enabling the subsequent phases to be taken forward to the programme required by the Towns Deal spend deadline in 2026.

AHF Funding

Project Development Grant - £30,000 (2022)

Photo credits
AHF