Copy photograph of engraving of Launceston, Corwall

SPF/3605

fonds

Copy made at unknown date of engraving published July 1 1822

Graphic Materials, Photographs

9659310

1 photographic print - gelatin silver

Black & white photograph of engraving of Launceston, Cornwall

Transferred from the Small Pictures File (Self Indexing File), Mitchell Library Reading Room, 2013 - SPF/Launceston, Cornwall, England
Transferred from PXA 2144/Box 14/no. 24 in May 2021
Note on verso of item describes the engraving:
'This picture was taken from the section called Newport. The background on the left in the foreground is the parapet of a bridge over the small stream called the River Kessey. The large white building on the left has been for many years the offices of the tannery which lies behind it. This building is still standing and is still in use. The road leading off to the right runs beside the river and passes St. Thomas' Church and the ruins of an old Priory.
The small cottages on the left of the picture just past the tanyard are virtually unchanged, indeed the present cottages there (1963) could be the originals of the picture.
The road shown was at one time the only main road into the town, it runs steeply up between the hill and the church tower and is still known as 'old hill' . There has been for the last 60/70 years or probably more, a better road running around the right of the hill and known as 'New Road'. The two roads have roughly the shape of a pair of pincers.
At the apex of the hill is the ruin of the Norman Keep of the castle which was the seat of the Earls of Cornwall in the 17th Century. George Fox, the Quaker, was imprisoned here in 1656.
The church tower is part of the 16th Century Church of St. Mary Magdalen, but the tower is dated 1380.
The scene depicted is of course now much more built over but the salient points are almost unchanged.'