31 July Launceston Castle and Falmouth Cornwall

Another rainy English day, with a castle and a church in the Cornish town of Launceston today. I was on my way from Torquay to Falmouth, and stopped to see this castle the was the sometime home to Robert of Mortain, a half brother to William the Conqueror. This was another perfect example of a Motte and Bailey castle, which was erected in the 11th Century right after William I became King of England.




Across the street from the castle was St, Mary Magdalene’s church in the town of Launceston. I love the history behind so many of the English Churches, and was lucky enough to speak with one of the church elders while visiting it. He told me a story of the pulpit, and how it was made by a local man prior to the English Civil War. During the war, the priest was afraid that the pulpit would be taken from the church by either the Parliamentarians or the Roundheads, so they covered it in pitch, turning it black, to dissuade any theft of their prized possession. About 50 years ago, the church transformed the pulpit back to its original state, and completely re-did it’s finish, except for one side that they left the pitch on, just to remind people of its history.









The City of Falmouth is a fishing town on a river estuary that runs into the English Channel. My lodgings here are at the Prince of Wales pub, and it’s a really nice tourist destination that has been fun getting to know. Here are a few pictures of my walk through Falmouth.








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