What is believed to be the oldest building still used as a Masonic Hall, The Old Duchy Palace in Lostwithiel in Cornwall has always been referred to as a palace, although it was never any such thing.
    It is now the home of Restormel Lodge No 856. It is said to have been built as a replica of the Great Hall of Westminster – or Palace of Westminster – the parliament buildings in those days, circa 1265-1300.
    The Dukes and Earls of Cornwall, who were of Royal blood, had their residence at Restormel Castle near Lostwithiel, so the correct name for the place would have been the Great Hall of Lostwithiel.
    In 1265 Richard, Earl of Cornwall and King of the Romans, acquired Restormel Castle, the borough of Lostwithiel, the town of Fowey, its haven and waters.
    Richard then built a hall, and transferred the assizes and county courts there from Launceston. Lostwithiel became the county town and the principal Stannary town. A stannary was a tin mining area of Cornwall and Devon.
    Richard’s son Edmund built the Great Hall, known as the Duchy Palace, and the county assizes were held here.
    It was a large complex and also housed the Convocation Hall for stannary and county affairs, the smelting houses, the Coinage Hall for the stannary and the Exchequer Hall.
    In 1338 the Earldom of Cornwall was raised to a Duchy. During the English Civil War the Great Hall was sacked and burnt, the least damage being to the Exchequer Hall, where the Lodge now meets.
    Under the Lodge is the vault, now used as a dining hall, which was the medieval tynn (tin) porch, where the tin ingots were stored under strict security.
    At the north end of the building is the Duchy Coat of Arms of circa 1600, said to be the earliest Arms of the Duchy to be found, where the 15 bezants are arranged in the piled formation.
    In the year of the Spanish Armada – 1588 – Sir Walter Raleigh, as Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall and Lord Warden of the Stannaries of Devon and Cornwall, called a meeting of the Stannary Parliament at Lostwithiel, to raise men and arms against the expected invasion.
    In 1878 Lostwithiel Freemasons bought that part of the building that contained the Hall, Convocation Room and the Old Exchequer and converted them.
    The dedication of this converted part of the Old Shire Hall for Freemasonry took place on 10 June 1879 in the presence of the Provincial Grand Master, the Earl of Mount Edgecumbe and Valletort.
    In January 1880, a resolution was passed that the Lodge name be changed from St Matthews to Restormel. This was to mark the connection of the freehold Lodge building, The Old Duchy Palace, with the Manor of Restormel and its castle, the property of Edward, Prince of Wales and Duke of Cornwall, Grand Master.
    The following year, the Prince of Wales, supported by 600 local Freemasons, escorted and assisted the Royal visitor in laying the foundation stone of Truro Cathedral in accordance with masonic customs.
    The silver trowel used on that occasion was presented to Truro Cathedral by St Andrews Lodge 1151, sister Lodge to Restormel Lodge No 856.