Lostwithiel

"LOSTWITHIEL, a parish, market town, and municipal borough, in the eastern division of the hundred of Powder, county Cornwall, 6 miles S. of Bodmin, 21 S.W. of Launceston, and 246 from London, on the Cornwall line of railway. It is situated in a vale on the banks of the river Fowey, and on the road from Plymouth to Falmouth. It was at one time the county and stannary town, and was a parliamentary borough with Penkneth, in the parish of Lanlivery, returning two members to parliament from the reign of Edward II. till the passing of the Reform Bill, by which it was disfranchised. It is said to have been founded by Richard Earl of Cornwall, who built the palace, in which the stannaries court was held, as well as Restormel Castle, in the reign of Edward I. In 1644 a battle was fought between the Royalists and Parliamentarians on the Broad Oak and St. Winos Downs, when the former were victorious. The latter retreated into Lostwithiel, while the Royalists encamped on the adjoining hills. The Earl of Essex, commander of the Parliamentarians, was accommodated at Lanhydrock, the seat of Lord Robartes, one of his officers, afterwards Earl of Radnor. A charter of incorporation was granted in the reign of George II., by which the local government was vested in a mayor, six aldermen, 17 common councilmen, with the usual officers. The mayor is chosen annually by the council. Property and money matters are managed by the aldermen; and a court is annually held when the inspectors of weights and measures and other officers are appointed. The corporation, by virtue of its charter, has jurisdiction over the river Fowey, which is navigable to the quay at spring tides, and is crossed by a commodious stone bridge. The borough includes part of the parish of St. Winos, and in 1861 had a population of 1659. It contains a market-house, townhall, a mechanics' institute, and the Lostwithiel Book Club. The houses are built of stone and roofed with slate, which abounds in the district. The principal trade carried on consists in the conveyance of the iron and copper ores and other mineral produce of the surrounding district to the port of Fowey for shipment to Wales, and the bringing from thence coal, timber, limestone, and sand. Many of the people are also employed in the tanneries and the Royal Restormel Iron Mine, and as woolstaplers. About 3 miles distant from the town are the rich copper mines of Lanescot and the Fowey Console. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Exeter, value £96. The church dedicated to St. Bartholomew, is an edifice of ancient date, with a square tower surmounted by a lantern spire. It contains an antique font of an octangular form, and several monuments, some very old. The charities produce about £20 per annum. The Independents, Wesleyans, and Wesleyan Association Methodists have each a chapel. There are a corporation, mathematical, and commercial school, and a girls' National school. Some interesting ruins still exist of Restormel Castle, once occupied by the earls of Cornwall, and visited in 1864 by the Prince of Wales as Duke of Cornwall. According to tradition Lostwithiel was so called from having been the residence of Withiel, anciently Earl of Cornwall, who had a palace at Penknight. The manorial rights of the Duchy of Cornwall were purchased by the Earl of Mount Edgecumbe 70 years ago, and conveyed by him to the Corporation of Lostwithiel. Friday is market day. Fairs are held on the 31st March, 10th July, 4th September, and 13th November, for the sale of horses and live stock. A cattle show takes place on the 12th December, and a regatta in August."

"PELYN, a seat in the parish of Lostwithiel, county Cornwall, 1 mile S.W. of Lostwithiel, and 22 miles S.W. of Launceston. It is situated in the valley of the river Fowey, and has near it St. Chad's summerhouse."

"RESTORMEL CASTLE, a demesne in the parish of Lostwithiel, hundred of East Powder, county Cornwall, 1 mile N. of Lostwithiel, and 20 miles S.W. of Launceston. The present mansion is situated on a hill overlooking the river Fowey, and near the ruins of the ancient court of the Earls of Cornwall, built by Robert, Earl of Mortaigne."