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 Launceston -
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Situated on the edge of
Bodmin Moor and close to the Devon border.
Launceston has been described as one of
Cornwall’s nicest inland town’s. It was also a favourite
with Sir John Betjeman who called it ‘the most interesting
town in Cornwall’.
It was until 1838 the regional capital of Cornwall and
guarded the main overland route into the county, it dates
from Celtic times.
Shortly after the Norman Conquest in the 11th century a
massive castle was built here overlooking the River Kensey
by Brian de Bretague, the first Norman Earl of Cornwall. The
castle was then a base for the Earls of Cornwall.
Launceston is the only walled town in the county and once
had a royal mint.
It was visited by the Black Prince and in 1549 was seized by
Cornish rebels. The castle changed hands twice during the
Civil War before becoming an Assize Court and prison.
Today, the castle is in ruins but the 12’ thick walls of the
round Keep and Tower can still be seen.
Launceston was also once the home of an Augustinian Priory
that was founded in 1136. Most of these buildings have long
since disappeared but the priory’s chapel of care, now St
Thomas Church, remains. Although only a small building it
has the largest font in Cornwall.
The town’s medieval south gate, a castellated building, has
been a guardhouse and prison, it is now an excellent Art
Gallery.
The west and north gates have ceased to exist since the 19th
century. An east gate has never existed as the steep land
was a deterrent of any attack from the direction.
Launceston also served as a prison housing French prisoners
of war during the Napoleonic Wars.
Elsewhere in Launceston the streets around the castle are
full of excellent architecture with buildings dating from
Georgian and earlier. This includes the National Trust owned
‘Lawrence House Museum’.
Local attractions include the Lawrence Steam Railway, a
narrow gauge line travelling in open or closed carriages
running for 5 miles through the beautiful Kensey Valley to
Newmills and back.
There is also a 16th century church of St Mary Magdalene
boasting one of the most lavishly covered exteriors.
Today Launceston is a busy market town with numerous small
shops, restaurants and services, it has a population of
around 7000.
It is an ideal location for touring both the Bodmin Moor and
Dartmoor. Tavistock is only a short drive, described as the
gateway to Dartmoor.
Although described as an inland town, in Cornwall the sea is
never far away, both north and south coasts are just a short
drive, with Looe to the south and the
Boscastle/Tintagel
area to the north.
The town also has a sports centre, two very good 18 hole
golf courses, two bowls clubs and Salmon/trout fishing
closeby.
Local places worth a visit include:
Hidden Valley Adventure Park
Jamaica Inn and museum
The Castle
Steam Railway
Lawrence House Museum
Trenance Gardens
Trethorne Leisure Farm
Launceston is a very pleasant inland town extremely
accessible via the main A30 trunk road. It is far from being
a tourist resort but a popular destination for those
exploring Cornwall.
The accommodation
in Launceston is quite limited. For further details please
click on:
For accommodation in
Launceston click here
Bed and breakfast in
Launceston
Self catering in
Launceston
Return to towns and
villages
For the whole area,
please go to:Accommodation
in Cornwall.
Launceston News:
BBC Sport |
Warriors hope to hang on to DrahmBBC Sport, UK - May 15, 2008Drahm has played well since returning from a loan spell with Launceston. He recently told BBC Hereford and Worcester he had enjoyed the end of his career at ... |
Ute arsonist sets fire to himselfMelbourne Herald Sun, Australia - 7 hours agoBy Nick Clark A 28-YEAR-OLD man who torched himself when he set fire to a car, ran screaming for help through central Launceston and was eventually doused ... |
Gyrocopter pilot had heart attackBBC News, UK - 3 hours agoAn inquest jury at Launceston returned a verdict of death by natural causes following the crash on 1 June 2006. Mr Pearce's son Mike said the family was ... |
Row on port controlNEWS.com.au, Australia - 12 hours ago... lose its landmark port control tower, with all direct "traffic controlling" of ship movements in the River Derwent likely to be shifted to Launceston. ... |
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