Did you know that Launceston was once the capital of Cornwall?

[00:00:00]Did you know that this border town was once the capital of Cornwall? Cross the River Tamar, the ancient boundary dividing Anglo-Saxon Devon from Celtic Curnow, and you'll find yourself in Launceston, where a Norman castle overlooks the gateway to Cornwall.

[00:00:14]Although the modern Cornish capital is today found in Truro, 50 miles west of the River Tamar, for centuries, Launceston was the administrative and political center of the Duchy. In the year 1068 AD, Robert de Mortain, the half-brother of William the Conqueror, ordered the construction of a motte-and-bailey here following the Norman conquest of England. From the castle's stone keep and tower, successive Norman lords controlled access to Cornwall in an effort to subjugate Cornish lands to the west. In 1337, Launceston became the capital of the newly established Duchy of Cornwall, from where the Earl of Cornwall ruled the Cornish Peninsula. The Duchy of Cornwall was established to provide a regular income for the heir to the English throne, and historically, Cornish nobles would present the Duke of Cornwall with a curious and very specific selection of items, including a pint of cumin, an ash bow, and a gray cloak once a year at Launceston's Polson Bridge, right on the banks of the River Tamar. It's a ceremonial tradition that continues to this day, and the current heir and Duke of Cornwall, Prince William, still owns Launceston Castle.

[00:01:18]In 1838, however, Bodmin claimed the county town crown from Launceston before the capital then moved further west to Truro in the late 19th century.

[00:01:27]Launceston may no longer be Cornwall's capital, but it remains one of Britain's most intriguing border towns. And if you enjoyed this curious snippet of history, then why not pop into an independent bookshop like Black Cat Books in Launceston, where you can pick up a copy of my new book, Along the Borders.