Lawrence House, Launceston facts for kids
Lawrence House is a special old building in Launceston, Cornwall. It's a type of house called a Georgian townhouse, built way back in 1753. Today, it's owned by the National Trust and used as a museum by the Launceston Town Council. It's also a 'Grade II* listed' building, which means it's very important historically and architecturally.
About Lawrence House
Lawrence House is a very important historical building. It's officially known as a "Grade II* listed" building. This means it's recognized for its special history and design. The listing includes the house itself, the museum inside, and even the wall in front of it. It was first listed as important on February 27, 1950.
The famous writer John Betjeman once said that Castle Street, where Lawrence House is located, has "the most perfect collection of 18th Century townhouses in Cornwall." This shows how special the area is!
What the House Looks Like
Lawrence House is made of red bricks laid in a special pattern called "Flemish bond." It has two main floors, plus a basement and an attic. The roof is steep and covered with slate, and it has red brick chimneys. You can see the year "1753" carved into the house, along with the letters "HL." Another part of the house shows the year "1913."
On the upper floor, there are five windows. One of them is a special "Venetian window" with fancy molding around it. The main entrance is in the middle of the house. It has a porch with a triangular top, supported by decorative pillars. The front door has four panels and a beautiful fan-shaped window above it. The roof also has two original "dormer" windows, which stick out from the roof and have six small glass panes each.
Inside, Lawrence House still has many of its original features. This includes a painted staircase in the basement that looks like wood grain, wooden wall panels, decorative plasterwork, fancy ceiling edges, and original fireplaces.
The Museum Inside
Lawrence House is owned by the National Trust, a charity that protects historic places. It is rented out to the Launceston Town Council, who use it as a local museum and a civic center for the town.
The museum is a great place to learn about the history of Launceston. On the first floor, you can see a collection of old costumes from the Victorian era and more recent times. The ground floor has many exhibits and lots of information about the local history of the area. During the summer, some of the displays are changed regularly to keep things fresh and interesting for visitors.
The museum is currently closed for repairs, but when it's open, admission is free!
