Lawrence House, Launceston facts for kids

Lawrence House is a beautiful old house in Launceston, Cornwall. It was built way back in 1753. This special house is owned by the National Trust, which helps protect important places. It's also a "Grade II* listed" building, meaning it's very important historically. Today, the house is used as a local museum by the Launceston Town Council.

What Makes Lawrence House Special?

Lawrence House is a very important building. It is officially known as a Grade II* listed building. This means it has special historical or architectural value. The house, its museum, and even the wall in front are all protected.

The famous writer John Betjeman once said that Castle Street, where the house is, has "the most perfect collection of 18th Century townhouses in Cornwall." Lawrence House is a great example of these old homes.

The Look of Lawrence House

This house is made of red bricks laid in a special pattern called a Flemish bond. It has two main floors, plus a basement and an attic. The roof is steep and covered with slate, and there are red brick chimneys.

You can see the year "1753" carved into the house, along with the letters "HL." Another carving on the right side shows "1913." The top floor has five windows. One of these is a "Venetian window," which is a large window with three parts.

The main entrance has a fancy porch with columns and decorative supports. The front door has four panels and a fan-shaped window above it. There are also two original windows on the roof, called dormers, each with six small panes of glass.

Inside Lawrence House

When you go inside Lawrence House, you'll find many original features. The staircase in the basement looks like wood grain. There are old wooden panels on the walls and beautiful plasterwork on the ceilings.

You can also see decorative moldings around the ceilings and original fireplaces. All these details show how homes were built and decorated hundreds of years ago.

Lawrence House as a Museum

The National Trust owns Lawrence House. They lease it to the Launceston Town Council. The council uses the house as a local museum and a civic center for the town.

The museum is a great place to learn about local history. On the first floor, you can see a collection of old costumes from Victorian times and more recent years. The ground floor has many exhibits and lots of information about the history of the Launceston area.

The museum was closed for repairs in early 2025. It offers free admission to visitors.