Lostwithiel

The name Lostwithiel comes from two old Cornish words meaning ‘the place at the tail end of the woodland’, which perfectly describes its location - nestling in the valley of the River Fowey and surrounded by wooded hills. The mediaeval church, bridge and part of the Great Hall (now known as the Duchy Palace) still stand as testimony to its original splendour. The Normans, who named it ‘the Port of Fawi’, founded the town, and for centuries it was the second busiest port on the south coast of England. Tin and other raw materials were brought here for assaying and onward transportation until the upstream mining activity caused the quay to silt up and force the port further down river.

Lostwithiel was a major crossing place on the River Fowey and the original medieval timber bridge was replaced and then gradually altered until Tudor times when the bridge seen today was completed. Alongside the banks of the River Fowey and downstream from the bridge lies the tranquil Coulson Park. Opened in 1907, the park was named after the American millionaire Nathaniel Coulson, who grew up in the town and who put up the money for the park’s construction. 

Throughout Lostwithiel there are reminders, in the buildings, of the former importance of this pleasant and picturesque place. The remains of the 13th century Great Hall, which served as the treasury and stannary offices, can still be seen, and in Fore Street there is a fine example of an early 18th century arcaded Guildhall. Built in 1740 by Richard, Lord Edgcumbe, the ground floor was originally an open Corn Market with the town lock-up behind and the guildhall on the first floor. John Betjeman is reputed to have said ‘There is history in every stone in Lostwithiel’.  Today, the building is home to the Lostwithiel Museum, which charts eight centuries of local history from the time the town claimed to be Cornwall’s capital to the present day. The area’s military history is most vividly captured in the imposing ruins of Restormel Castle, crowning a hill 1 mile upriver from Lostwithiel (see also Polscoe).

The striking St Bartholomew Parish Church has a distinctive octagonal spire and its Breton-style design is a reminder of the close links between the Celts of Cornwall and those of northern France. Dedicated to the patron saint of the sick and of tanners (tanning was another industry of medieval Lostwithiel), the church, like other parts of the town, still bears some scars from the Civil War when the area became a battleground between the opposing forces. Braddock Down, to the east, was the site of a Royalist victory in 1643. During that war, Cornwall was strongly Royalist, and in 1644 the Parliamentarians tried to take the town once more, this time succeeding. A curious tale is told of how the Parliamentarian troops led a horse into St Bartholomew’s Church and baptised it ‘Charles’, using water from the church’s font. By September of the same year they had been forced to abandon the town to the Royalists.

Across the river from the town lies the Boconnoc Estate, the home of the Pitt family who gave Britain two great Prime Ministers. Boconnoc can trace its history back to the Normans and played a significant role in the Civil War as recounted in the du Maurier novel The King’s General. Nowadays, Boconnoc House and its surrounding estate is one of the most beautiful locations in hidden Cornwall. The house and park have been used for numerous film locations including the BBC Poldark series and scenes from the 1993 film of The Three Musketeers. It is also used for weddings and events.