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Launceston

In Brief

Name: LAUNCESTON
Classification: Town
Twinned with: Plestin-les-Grèves in Brittany, France
Population: 9,216 in 2011
Notable former residents: Cornish poet Charles Causley lived his life in Launceston, plus late 18th and early 19th century Shakespearean actress Mary Ann Davenport was born here. John Couch Adams, an astronomer who co-discovered Neptune in 1845, was born nearby
Films shot in town: Not so many blockbuster movies but filming was done for a ‘Time Team’ episode in 1997 and for Dawn French TV drama ‘Delicious’ in 2017
Interesting factoid: This town is pronounced ‘Lanson’ locally. Or, at least, ‘Larnson’. But its original name was Dunheved, which is old English for ‘hill end’

FORMER CAPITAL OF CORNWALL: LAUNCESTON

Strong and dependable, Launceston is an ancient Cornish market town with plenty of character. It’s as close to the Devon border as you can get and is surrounded by lush countryside on all sides, plus it’s pretty near to the wild and wonderful Bodmin Moor. It was once the only walled town in Cornwall – it was actually the county town until 1838 – and its old Norman castle still stands proudly watching over it. There’s plenty to see and do around its streets, particularly in the many excellent shops, cafés, pubs, takeaways and restaurants, and there are historical remnants of its ancient past all around, plus some fab attractions to keep the whole family amused. Welcome to ‘Lanson’ (as it’s known locally)!