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The picture is the old market hall in Penzance drawn by Thomas Allom. The building was demolished and replaced by the present one in 1838. William Bottrell (Old Celt) wrote the following in 1886:

The completion of the Penzance Public Buildings forms an epoch in the history of the place, and an elderly person cannot help contrasting the present appearance of the town with what it was three-score years, or a century, ago; as we know it to have been from well-remembered vestiges of the old time, and from the accounts of our grandparents, who, if they revisited our town at the present time, would be much surprised, and not over well pleased, at all the changes which have taken place during the last hundred years, many of which are alterations without improvement. nay, often wanton destruction of what can never be restored, however regretted.

Who that remembers the picturesque and interesting old market-house, with the corresponding buildings surrounding or near it, such as the house in which Sir Humphry Davy was born, the cosy nook under the balcony of the “Star” inn, where often of an evening he held his youthful comrades spellbound by the wonderful stories that his poetical imagination inspired, can help regretting their removal and loss? I can’t understand, nor can many others, what was the inducement to remove the old balcony from this inn, and other houses throughout the town! They were no obstruction to the footpath, and the very aspect of these appropriate, cosy-looking entrances to the old inns infused a feeling of comfort and seclusion that one misses very much in the glaring, lantern-like modern hotels. Besides, as an interesting memorial of our most illustrious townsman, it is ten thousand pities it should have been destroyed.

Davies Gilbert published this carol in his first collection in 1822 and it has remained a favourite where ever carols are sung. These words come from a broadside which had been posted up in Helston. This was a tradition used by printers to advertise for business.

1. O well, O well, the Angels did say
To shepherds there in the fields did lay;
Late in the night a-folding their sheep,
A winter's night, both cold and bleak.

Refrain:
O well, O well, O well, O well,
Born is the King of Israel.

2. And then there did appear a Star,
Whose glory then did shine so far:
Unto the earth it gave a great light,
And there it continued a day and a night. Refrain

3. And by the light of that same Star,
Three Wise Men came from country far;
To seek a King was their intent --
They follow'd the Star wherever it went. Refrain

4. The Star drew near unto the north-west,
O'er Bethlehem city it took its rest;
And there it did both stand and stay
Right over the house where our Lord lay. Refrain

5. Then enter'd in these Wise Men three,"
With reverence fall on their knee,
And offer'd up in His presence
The gifts of gold and frankincense. Refrain

6. 'Tween an ox manger and an ass,
Our Blest Messiah's place it was;
To save us all from bond and thrall,
He was a Redeemer for us all! Refrain