Lys Kernow

During the first half of the 20th century Cornwall County Council held its meetings at the Old County Hall at Station Road in Truro.[3] After deciding that the Old County Hall was inadequate for their needs,[4] council leaders decided to procure a new purpose-built building: the site selected had been occupied by the grounds of a private house known as Dalvenie House, as well as some surrounding fields.[5]

The new building was designed by the County Architect, Francis Kenneth Hicklin, and his successor, Alan Groves, in the Brutalist style[6] and was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 14 July 1966.[7] The design involved a three-storey square concrete-framed structure with circa 50 bays on each side; the bays contained a window on each floor flanked by concrete slabs.[2] Internally, the principal room was the council chamber which was on the first floor and was cantilevered out of the main building on the east side.[2][8] There was a courtyard, landscaped by Sir Geoffrey Jellicoe, in the centre of the building; a sculpture by Barbara Hepworth, known as "Rock form, Porthcurno", was unveiled in the courtyard garden when the building opened.[9]

Following the abolition of Cornwall County Council in April 2009,[10] the building became the headquarters of the new unitary authority, Cornwall Council.[11] This was followed by an extensive programme of refurbishment works, to a design by Poynton Bradbury Wynter Cole of St Ives, which was completed in 2013.[12][13]

The building contains an extensive collection of modern art including a painting by the Cornish fisherman and artist, Alfred Wallis, depicting the harbour entrance at Penzance.[14][15]