ABSTRACT
One of the ancient Stannary towns, Lostwithiel sits quietly on the banks of the River Fowey, its street plan little changed since medieval times. In the late thirteenth century a range of buildings was erected in the town to serve as the administrative centre of Cornwall, within its bounds a Hall of Exchequer and Exchange known as the Shire Hall, a prison, and the Coinage Hall or Stannary. The Riding of St George at Lostwithiel took place on the Sunday after St George's day, with a man in armour being paraded through the town, the only musician mentioned being a piper, possibly a bagpiper. In any event, land in Lostwithiel was still in Tomkins hands when, on 14 October 1549, the last known Ralph Tomkins bequeathed property to his two sons, Thomas and John: Ralph Tomkyn of Lostwithiel, merchant, to Thomas his son.
