Launceston Castle - Kastell Lannstefan

Launceston is situated just over one mile west of the River Tamar River which marks the border between Cornwall and Devon and is referred to as the "gateway to Cornwall". Launceston Castle dominates the town. It is a Norman castle built in 1070 by Robert de Mortain and half-bother of William 1. The castle is an earthwork motte and bailey construction and was the administrative headquarters for the Earls of Cornwall. An inner keep was added in the twelfth century and during the thirteenth Richard, Earl of Cornwall began to rebuild the castle in stone. The tower (with two rooms) was constructed in darker stone than the rest of the castle. A new great hall was built inside the twelfth century bailey, which remained in use until the early 17th century as an Assize Hall.

Our Visit

We visited Launceston Castle on a cloudy day in March, which gave it a particular brooding atmosphere. The site has a dark history and in 1548, 28 Cornish men were rounded up and many hung drawn and quartered, following the killing of William Body. He had been undertaking an aggressive campaign seeking to impose religious and cultural conformity at the time. During the Civil War in 1646 the castle was used as the base for the Cornish Royalist defence of Cornwall.

The town of Launceston has an attractive centre with a number of shops, cafes. pubs and restaurants. As well as the castle there are a number of notable buildings in the town. Part of the town wall is still in existence including the South Gate of two arches. A Norman doorway is incorporated into the White Hart Hotel. New Bridge (early 16th century) crosses the River Tamar and two old bridges cross the River Kensey, one being mediaeval and the other built in 1580. The Tudor church St Mary Magdalene was particularly impressive. Built in 1511-1524 and the tower of the church dates from the 14th century, an earlier church and graveyard having previously been on the site.

Launceston is an interesting town to visit and is on the A30 about 42 miles to the west of Exeter, 26 miles north of Plymouth and 21 miles east of Bodmin placing it approximately midway between the north and south coasts of Cornwall.