Launceston, Cornwall
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Launceston | |
| Cornish: Lannstefan | |
  Launceston shown within Cornwall |
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| Population | 7,135 (2001 census[1]) |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | |
| Parish | Launceston |
| District | North Cornwall |
| Shire county | Cornwall |
| Region | South West |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | LAUNCESTON |
| Postcode district | PL15 |
| Dialling code | 01566 |
| Police | Devon and Cornwall |
| Fire | Cornwall |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| European Parliament | South West England |
| UK Parliament | North Cornwall |
| List of places: UK • England • Cornwall | |
Launceston (Cornish: Lannstefan; the English name is pronounced /ˈlɔːns(t)ən/, /ˈlɑːns(t)ən/ or /ˈlæns(t)ən/, usually without the 't' by the Cornish, but with by everyone else) is a town and civil parish in the north of Cornwall, United Kingdom with a population of approximately 7,000. It is situated about two miles from the border with Devon at the River Tamar, and is known as the "gateway to Cornwall". The Saxon name for the town was Dunheved.[2]
Since 1806, Launceston has had a namesake in Tasmania - now a provincial city of about 100,000 people.
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[edit] Geography
The town is built on the side of a large hill, which makes it almost immune to flooding, unlike the nearby suburb of Newport, situated at the bottom of the hill, which is susceptible to flooding by the River Kensey. Launceston is 52km away from Torpoint.
[edit] Economy
The outskirts of Launceston have recently undergone rapid large business development, although the town centre has slowly become less and less commercial, with only small shops and many of those going out of business within only a few months. The employment of immigrants from mainly Eastern European countries has allowed the town to sustain some of its primary industries, which the town may not have been able to support due to the low number of potential people in the existing population.
[edit] Culture
The poet Charles Causley was a native and long-standing resident of the town. He was at one time contender for Poet Laureate and died in 2003, aged 86.
Launceston railway station opened on 1 June 1865, it closed to passengers on 31 December 1962.
The Launceston Steam Railway is a heritage railway which runs from the town.
Launceston annually hosted the "Castle Rock" music festival in July, which took place on the lower grounds of the castle which overlooks the town (within the outer walls). As well as a vibrant mix of local bands, the 2006 festival was headlined by Capdown which massively improved the event's profile. Castle rock now takes place at Polson rugby grounds.
[edit] Administration
Launceston was a Parliamentary Borough from medieval times, with the right to return two Members of Parliament. However, the right to vote was not held by all the residents but only by the freemen of the borough, and by the 19th century there were fewer than 50 and it had come to be regarded as a rotten borough, one of many in Cornwall. Neighbouring Newport was also a borough with two MPs of its own. Launceston lost one of its two MPs and Newport both by the Great Reform Act of 1832; the area included in the borough of Launceston was considerably extended to enable the franchise to be opened up. It finally lost its right to separate representation in 1885.
Launceston was once the capital of Cornwall (before this title passed to Bodmin), and in 1973 the Prince of Wales visited to receive his feudal dues from the Duchy of Cornwall.
[edit] History
The Cornish origin of "Launceston", Lannstefan, means the "church of St Stephen" ("Lann", as "Llan-" is particularly common in Welsh placenames), indicating an old ecclesiastical connection.
Launceston Castle, which dominates the town, is a Norman castle of motte-and-bailey design, and was built by Robert de Mortain, half-brother of William I, in 1087 to dominate the surrounding area.
During the reign of Henry III, a mint was established in Launceston. The fine Tudor church of St Mary Magdalene was built circa 1511 by Sir Henry Trecarrell as a memorial to his infant son who died whilst being bathed. The fine ornate carvings have withstood the test of time. The tower of the church dates from the 14th century, an earlier church and graveyard having previously occupied the site.
During the Civil War Launceston was known to be Royale et Loyale to King Charles I, hence its coat of arms. His son, the Prince of Wales, stayed in the town for a couple of days en route to the Royalist army based further down into Cornwall.
In 1643, the Parliamentarian forces under the command of Major General James Chudleigh advanced in an attempt to capture Launceston from the Royalists. The Royalist commander, Sir Ralph Hopton, stationed his forces on the summit of Beacon Hill, a steep hill which overlooks the town. The Parliamentarians captured the foot of the hill, but were unable to dislodge the Royalist forces from the top. Hopton led a counterattack down the hill and, despite fierce fighting and the arrival of Parliamentary reinforcements, forced Chudleigh's troops to retreat.[3]
Launceston has the only document in the UK signed by Queen Mary and her husband, William of Orange.
In the 19th century, Launceston gave its name to the settlement which is now the second largest city in Tasmania.
During the Second World War, a gun battle took place between African American and white American soldiers in the town centre of Launceston, which ended in punishment for both sides. This is commonly known as the "Battle of Launceston". In this and other less violent conflicts, the Launceston police shocked white Americans by frequently siding with the black soldiers.[citation needed]
[edit] Trivia
Launceston is said to have gained its historical importance from being the furthest into Cornwall that Justices and other Officers of the Crown felt safe to venture..[citation needed]
Launceston is one of the most important towns in Daphne du Maurier's novel 'Jamaica Inn'
[edit] Sources
- ^ neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk
- ^ Launceston, St Mary Magdalene. GENUKI: UK & Ireland Genealogy. Retrieved on 2006-10-29.
- ^ The Civil War in the South-West, from British Civil Wars, Commonwealth, and Protectorate.
[edit] External links
- Launceston Town Council
- Launceston 2020, a community website
- Launceston at the Open Directory Project
- About Launceston
- Cornwall Record Office Online Catalogue for Launceston
- Photos of Launceston from Marhamchurch.eu
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