Launceston

Also known as Launceston, Cornwall

town, ancient borough, and civil parish in Cornwall, England, UK

Key facts

Population: 10,247 (Parish, 2021) , 8,425 (Built up area, 2021)
Motto: Royale et Loyale
Os grid reference: SX335845
Civil parish: Launceston
Unitary authority: Cornwall
Ceremonial county: Cornwall
Region: South West
Country: England
Sovereign state: United Kingdom
Post town: LAUNCESTON
Postcode district: PL15
Dialling code: 01566
Police: Devon and Cornwall
Fire: Cornwall
Ambulance: South Western
Uk parliament: North Cornwall

via Wikipedia infobox

Wikidata facts

Population: 9216
Image: Town Square - geograph.org.uk - 1286355.jpg
Dialing code: 01566

Show 6 more facts

Commons category: Launceston, Cornwall
OS grid reference: SX335845
postal code: PL15
IPA transcription: ˈlɑːnstən
P8168: Paraguayan guaraní
P12749: Christoph Hein

Sources (6)

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Article

Launceston (/ˈlɑːnstən, ˈlɔːn-/ LAHN-stən, LAWN-, locally /ˈlænsən, ˈlɑːn-/ LA(H)N-sən; rarely spelt Lanson as a local abbreviation; Cornish: Lannstevan) is a town and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is 1 mile (1.6 km) west of the River Tamar, which forms almost the entire border between Cornwall and Devon. The landscape of the town is generally steep, rising from the River Kensey, a tributary of the Tamar, up to the hill on which Launceston Castle stands.

The castle was built by Robert, Count of Mortain, (half-brother of William the Conqueror) c. 1070 to control the surrounding area. Launceston was the caput of the feudal barony of Launceston and of the Earldom of Cornwall until replaced by Lostwithiel in the 13th century. Launceston was later the county town of Cornwall until 1838 when Bodmin replaced it. Launceston's motto "Royale et Loyale" (English translation: Royal and Loyal) is a reference to its adherence to the Cavalier cause during the English Civil War of the 1640s.