Lostwithiel was originally founded by the Normans for the exportation of tin around 1200 and at that time the Fowey River was so wide and deep that all the ships tied up along the quay to load tin that was being exported to Europe and around that time this town became one of the busiest ports in the South Coast.
Church Of St Bartholomew
In the town you might notice a spire in the skyline, this is attached to the Church of St Bartholomew, a 14th-century church, and adjoins to that a 13th-century tower which has since been extended with an octagonal spire cleverly grafted on. When inside the church the architecture and attention to detail will blow you away, then if you look to the east the stained window is one of the most perverse in the whole of Cornwall. During the Civil War in 1644, the town of Lostwithiel was badly damaged by soldiers and besieged by Royalists and later in the 17th century most of the town had been rebuilt but the only remaining buildings from the early 16th century are the medieval church, bridge, and Dutch Place
Old Dutchy Place
Old Dutchy Place in the town center was built by Edmund Earl of Cornwall in 1292 and in 1337 the Black Prince became the Duke of Cornwall, soon after he made Dutchy Place his admin center, where the Courts, Treasury, Maritime offices, and the tin industry were run from. Made from local stone, this building once reached further along the quay but was badly damaged during the Siege of Lostwithiel in 1644. The remaining Convocation Hall at the corner of Quay Street became a Freemasons’ temple from 1878, when the last upgrade was carried out, to 2008.
During the Siege of Lostwithiel in 1644, Charles stayed nearby at Boconnoc House. Now you can visit Boconnoc Estate with its wonderful wild deer park and sometimes the gardens are open to the public. Just south of Lostwithiel is Luxulyan, well known for its granite viaduct which is supported by 10 arches and crosses through Luxulyan Valley, and with it forms an important part of Cornwall’s Mining Landscape. Beneath the Viaduct is a small stream, pathway and the Atlantic Coast Line passes through here.
As Lostwithiel is located inland Cornwall there are no beaches in this village but a short drive away you can be met with the most stunning beaches like Polkerris beach which is located just east of Par, stunning golden sand and great for family outings but if Polkerris is full then just to the right of that is Readymoney Cove, the most beautiful surroundings with a castle just overlooking the beach on the edge of the cliff.
