The White Horse Inn · Photo: David Smith · CC BY-SA 2.0

History of Launceston · Historic England

205 listed buildings, 7 of them Grade I

On the Historic England list, all of them stand inside Launceston’s built-up area, 243 for every 10,000 residents. It also has 7 scheduled monuments. 26% of its homes were built before 1919. We have photos of 11 of its listed buildings and 8 old views of the town. Launceston grades A+ for history: #4 of 35 in Cornwall.

7Grade I 14Grade II*7scheduled monuments 14on Church Street

Listed buildings

205

243 per 10,000 residents

Grade I

exceptional interest

Grade II*

more than special interest

Scheduled monuments

nationally important sites

Homes built before 1919

26%

typical UK town 15%

In pictures

Launceston in 20 photos and old views

Tap a photo to step through them full screen.

Launceston Castle Keep and attached buildingsGrade I listed

Church of St Mary MagdaleneGrade I listed

The West BridgeGrade I listed

Ridgegrove MillsGrade II listed

Bank HouseGrade II listed+15See all photos

Photos from Wikimedia Commons and Geograph, copied to our own server, each credited to its photographer with its licence; names open the building’s page or its official list entry.

Through time

Launceston from 1890 to 1925

8 old photos and postcards, in date order. All public domain, made before 1950.

VictorianLaunceston from S.W., Cornwall, EnglandPhoto: Photochrom Print Collection · Public domain

VictorianLaunceston from St. Stephens, Cornwall, EnglandPhoto: Photochrom Print Collection · Public domain

EdwardianFriths Postcard - Launceston, St Thomas Church...1906....Winter, Snow ScenePhoto: Mark Crombie · Public domain

EdwardianCornwall; Polson Bridge, Launceston PPC, From Slee's Series, Unposted, c 1910'sPhoto: Mark Crombie · Public domain

EdwardianPostcard 1911 of Launceston High School (Milton Hall)Photo: Unknown photographer · Public domain

Between the warsCornwall; Launceston,St Thomas' Church PPC By Frith, Unposted, c 1920'sPhoto: Mark Crombie · Public domain

Launceston from an Aeroplane - 23650 by Aerofilms. Aerial View. CORNWALL POSTCARD 1925 — Between the warsLaunceston from an Aeroplane - 23650 by Aerofilms. Aerial View. CORNWALL POSTCA…Photo: Mark Crombie · Public domain

Old viewLAUNCESTON CASTLE & LODGE CORNWALL-RP-a24 51Photo: Mark Crombie · Public domain

Public domain, from Wikimedia Commons, copied to our own server. Each credit opens the image’s page with its full description and history.

The map

Where Launceston’s history is

Every Grade I and II* building, monument and historic park, over the age of each neighbourhood’s homes.

Historic England lists buildings in three grades: Grade I for buildings of exceptional interest (about 2.5% of all listed buildings), Grade II* for particularly important buildings of more than special interest (about 5.8%), and Grade II for buildings of special interest (about 91.7%). Listing protects the whole building, inside and out.

Every entry on the National Heritage List for England whose point lies inside the ONS 2022 built-up-area boundary. One list entry can cover a terrace or a group of buildings. Neighbourhood dots: the population-weighted centre of each Census 2021 output area, coloured by its neighbourhood’s (LSOA’s) share of homes built before 1919 (Valuation Office Agency, March 2025).

Grade I

The 7 Grade I listed buildings in Launceston

Buildings of exceptional interest, about 2.5% of all listed buildings; 5 of these stand within 400 m of Launceston Castle. 5 are photographed. Each opens its own page, with the official list entry.

Public · listed 1993Launceston CastleOn the list as Launceston Castle Keep and attached buildingsPhoto: Chris Shaw · CC BY-SA 2.0

Church · listed 1950Church of St Mary MagdalenePhoto: nick macneill · CC BY-SA 2.0

Walls & gates · listed 1950The West BridgePhoto: Tony Atkin · CC BY-SA 2.0

Church · listed 1950Church of St StephenPhoto: Tony Atkin · CC BY-SA 2.0

Walls & gates · listed 1950The South GatePhoto: Harrie Gielen · CC BY-SA 4.0

Walls & gates · listed 1993The North Gatehouse of Launceston CastleOn the list as The North Gatehouse of Launceston Castle and Attached Walls

Walls & gates · listed 1993The South Gatehouse of Launceston Castle and Attached Buildings

Grade II*

The 14 Grade II* listed buildings in Launceston

Particularly important buildings of more than special interest. 3 are photographed.

Church · listed 1950Church of St Thomas by LauncestonPhoto: Tony Atkin · CC BY-SA 2.0

Inns & shops · listed 1950The Eagle House HotelPhoto: Michael Parry · CC BY-SA 2.0

House · listed 195026, Church StreetPhoto: Derek Harper · CC BY-SA 2.0

Public · listed 1950Castle Hill House

Walls & gates · listed 1950Dockacre House and Attached Road Frontage Walls

Walls & gates · listed 1972Garden Railings and Gate Piers to Eagle House Hotel

Walls & gates · listed 1972Launceston Town Walls

Walls & gates · listed 1950Lawrence HouseOn the list as Lawrence House and Museum and Forecourt Wall

House · listed 1950Merchant House

House · listed 1950No 4 Incorporating the Judge's Kitchen

Church · listed 1972Remains of St Thomas Priory

Walls & gates · listed 1993Roman Catholic Church of St Cuthbert Mayne, memorial and attached walls and steps

Show the other 2

House · listed 19505 and 7, Southgate Street

House · listed 19725, Castle Street

Historic streets

Church Street has the most listed buildings

Streets by the listed entries with an address on them. One entry can be a whole terrace, so long rows count once.

Church Street14 listed · 1 II*

Duke Street9 listed

St Stephen's Hill9 listed

St Thomas Hill9 listed

Broad Street8 listed

Southgate Street7 listed · 1 II*

High Street5 listed

Madford Lane4 listed

Southgate Place4 listed

Newport Square3 listed

St Thomas Road3 listed

St Thomas Street3 listed

Of the 205 entries, 103 are named by a street address; the rest are named buildings such as churches, halls and bridges.

What’s protected

Most of Launceston’s listed buildings are homes

Every listed building sorted by what its list name says it is.

Houses, terraces & villas132

Walls, gates & bridges27

Churches, chapels & priories21

Inns, shops & warehouses11

Public & civic buildings7

Street furniture5

Memorials, crosses & tombs2

132 entries (64%) are houses, terraces and villas. 21 are churches, chapels and priories, including 2 of the 7 Grade I buildings.

Buildings are sorted by words in each entry’s name (church, gate, inn, memorial…): the list’s open data has no building type. An entry named only by its address counts as a house.

Grade II

184 Grade II listed buildings

Most listed buildings are in this grade, which covers buildings of special interest. Open any building to read its official list entry.

The first 150 of 184 Grade II listed buildings, A to Z

Bakers Arms Public House Bank House Barclays Bank Barn and Attached Horse Engine House North East of Scarne Farmhouse Bournsall Headstone 3 Metres South of Church of St Stephen Church Stile Churchyard Walls, Gateways and Gates of Church of St Stephen Claremont House Congregational Sunday School Coupland House and Attached Forecourt Walls Criper Headstone Approximately 5 Metres East North East of Church of St Mary Magdalene Cross Approximateley 5 Metres East of Church of St Mary Magdalene Duke Terrace Fragment of Former Priory by South East Corner of Church of St Thomas by Launceston Fragment of Former Priory to South of Church of St Thomas by Launceston Garden Wall South of Garden Railings at Eagle House Hotel Garden Wall and Gate Piers at Castle Hill House Garden Wall to North of Health Offices Gate-Piers Immediately North East of Trebursye Lodge Gateway and Wall Attached to East of Health Offices Giles and Kingdom Headstones 10 Metres South of Church of St Stephen Granary and Implement Shed North East of Scarne Farmhouse Group of 4 Headstones 10 Metres South West of Church of St Stephen Health Offices Hender Tomb Approximately 20 Metres South of Church of St Thomas by Launceston Hopecote Hosken Tomb 4 Metres South of Church of St Stephen Implement Shed North of Scarne Farmhouse Isalene and attached walls and outbuilding K6 Telephone Kiosk K6 Telephone Kiosk Kensey Place Langton House Launceston War Memorial Madford Lodge Market House Milestone Adjacent to 'Holme Park' (Ngr SX3202183794)Milestone on B3254 near Recycling Centre (Ngr SX3219883351)National Westminster Bank No 11 and Attached Forecourt Walls No 13 and Attached Coach House No 22 and 24 and Attached Railings Nos 13 and 15 and Attached Steps and Forecourt Walls Nos 18-24 and Attached Forecourt Walls and Steps Oddfellows Hall Old House Ornamental Drinking Fountain Opposite No 8 Pape and Proctor Tomb Approximately 30 Metres North East of Church of St Mary Magdalene Park Hill House Penowl Perimeter Walls of Launceston Castle Priory House Ridgegrove Millhouse Ridgegrove Mills Ridgegrove Mills Granary Scarne Farm Buildings and Attached Outbuildings Schoolroom of Wesley Methodist Church St Dominick House and Attached Walls, Railings and Gate Piers St Stephens Cottage St Stephen's House, St Stephen's Cottage, Attached Walls and Gazebo St Thomas Bridge Stables to South of Eagle House Hotel Stone Drinking Trough at Centre of Green Store at Rear of Nos 16 and 18 Church Street Syms Tomb Approximately 35 Metres North East of Church of St Mary Magdalene Tamar Terrace and Attached Front Garden Walls The Bell Inn and Attached Wall and Coach House The Guildhall and Town Hall with Attached Coach House The Hollies The Launceston Arms Public House The Northgate Inn The Round House and Base of Medieval Market Cross The Tamar Health Club The Westgate Inn The White Hart Hotel The White Horse Inn Trebursye Lodge Trekensey House Victoria Cottage Wall, Gates and Gate Piers North and West of Church of St Thomas by Launceston Warmington Tomb Approximately 50 Metres South of Church of St Stephen Watering Place Wesley Methodist Church, And Attached Schoolroom, Vestry and Iron Railings Wooda Cottage 1 and 3, Broad Street 1, 2 and 3, The Walk 1, Duke Street 1, Madford Lane 1, Southgate Place 1, St Thomas Hill 1,2 and 3, Dutson Road 10 and 12, Newport Square 10 and 12, Southgate Street 10, Church Street 10-18, St Stephen's Hill 11, Angel Hill 11, Duke Street 11, North Street 11, Southgate Street 11, Western Road 12 and 14, High Street 12, Church Street 13, Church Street 13, Duke Street 14 and 16, St Thomas Street 14, 16 and 18, St Tomas Hill 14, Broad Street 14, Church Street 15 and 17, Church Street 15, Duke Street 16, Church Street 17 and 19, Duke Street 18 and 20, St Thomas Street 18, Church Street 19,19A and 21, Church Street 1A, Castle Street 2 and 3, North Street 2, Angel Hill 2, Broad Street 2, High Street 2, Madford Lane 2, Southgate Street 2, St Thomas Hill 20 and 20A, Church Street 20, 20A and 22, Westgate Street 20, Duke Street 20, St Thomas Hill 21, Duke Street 22, 24 and 26, St Thomas Street 22, Church Street 22, St Stephen's Hill 24, Broad Street 24, Northgate Street 25, St Stephen's Hill 26, Northgate Street 26, St Thomas Road 28, Church Street 3 and 5, Windmill Lane 3, Madford Lane 3, Race Hill 3, St Stephens Hill 3, St Thomas Hill 30 and 32 and Attached Forecourt Wall and Railings 30, St Stephen's Hill 32, St Stephen's Hill 33, 35 and 37, St Thomas Road 35, Westgate Street 4 and 5, Wooda Road 4, Broad Street 4, Exeter Street 4, Madford Lane

Search the rest on Historic England’s list →

Conservation areas

1 conservation area covers 16% of Launceston

Areas the council protects as a whole: demolition and changes to how buildings look need consent, and trees are protected.

Launceston 196953 ha

53 hain conservation areas, of 322 ha inside the built-up area.

192 of the 205 listed buildings stand in one.

Historic England’s conservation areas layer, supplied by councils (incomplete in places, so a page fact, never graded). Hectares are the part of each area inside the built-up area.

How the list grew

More than half of Launceston’s listed buildings were added in one year, 1972

The year each building now on the list was first listed.

1972 · 1071993 · 521950 · 35

19501960197019801990200020102020

The first 35 entries were listed in 1950, 4 of the 7 Grade I buildings among them. 107 came in 1972, in the national resurvey of the 1970s and 80s. Only 1 has been added in the last 15 years.

Monuments & landscapes

Monuments, parks and gardens

Designations that overlap the town by a tenth of their area or half a hectare.

7 scheduled monuments

Nationally important archaeological sites and monuments, protected by law; work on them needs consent from the Secretary of State, advised by Historic England.

Dunheved Cross, 80m west of Launceston Hospital

MedievalEarly medieval urban burh remains E of St Stephen's parish church, including remains of the early medieval Christian enclosure and monastery

MedievalLate medieval packhorse bridge 35m north of St Thomas's Church, Newport

Launceston Castle motte, bailey and shell keep

MedievalMedieval churchyard cross-head and medieval cross-shaft in St Mary Magdalene's churchyard

Part of Launceston Priory 50m south-east of St Thomas' Church

Southgate, Launceston

History Grade

Launceston grades A+ for history

Protected heritage and the age of the town’s homes, against all UK towns.

Protected heritage, for its size and in all (247 points, 293 per 10,000 residents)More than 94% of UK towns

Homes built before 1919 (26%)More than 77% of UK towns

Two measures, each ranked against every UK town of 1,000 or more, with protected heritage counting twice as much as the age of homes. Protected heritage counts each listed building by its grade (Grade I three points, II* two, II one), each scheduled monument and battlefield two, and each registered park or garden by its grade; it is ranked both per 10,000 residents and as a total, so a village with one fine church doesn’t outrank a historic city. The second measure is the share of homes built before 1919, from the Valuation Office Agency’s council tax records. History is a character grade: it describes the town and isn’t part of the overall grade.

Homes by age

26% of Launceston’s homes were built before 1919

Every home by when it was built, from council tax records, against England & Wales (the dark tick).

21%

Before 1900

1900–18

1919–29

1930s

1945–54

1955–64

12%

1965–72

11%

1973–82

7.4%

1983–92

3.2%

1993–99

13%

2000–08

8.2%

2009–15

2.7%

2016–25

LauncestonEngland & Wales

21% of homes are Victorian or older, against 16% across England and Wales. The busiest period since was 2000–08, which added 13% of today’s homes.

Valuation Office Agency, council tax stock of properties by build period, 31 March 2025, for the neighbourhoods (LSOAs) that make up the town, split by where their residents live. Homes with no recorded build period (30 here) are left out; 1939–44 is not a period in the data.

Towns its size

Launceston has the 8th most Grade I buildings of 722 towns its size

Places of 5,000–13,000 people outside London, by Grade I listed buildings.

Wells23

Launceston7

#37 of 722for listed buildings per resident (243 per 10,000). Brecon, Dartmouth and Malmesbury lead.

Only Wells, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Sherborne, Ludlow, Whitby, Bradford-on-Avon and Blandford Forum have more. The typical town its size has 0.

Neighbours

Listed buildings in the places around Launceston

Town	People	Listed	Grade I	History
Launceston	8,431	205	7	A⁺
Withnoe	1,820	0	0	D⁻
Kelly Bray	1,137	0	0	D
Callington	4,665	27	1	B
Pensilva	1,656	0	0	C⁻
Gunnislake and St Ann's Chapel	3,506	17	0	B⁺
St Cleer	1,144	16	2	A⁻
Tavistock	12,676	163	5	A

In brief

Launceston in brief

Few towns are as rich in listed heritage as Launceston: per resident it has more than 94% of UK towns. In all there are 205 listed buildings, 7 of them Grade I. Its housing is old: 26% of homes date from before 1919, against 15% in the typical UK town. Launceston Castle sits at the heart of it all, with 5 of the town’s Grade I buildings within 400 m.

Only 7 of the 722 towns nearest its size have more Grade I buildings. On Church Street alone there are 14 listed buildings. A conservation area has protected part of it since 1969.

Questions about Launceston’s history

How many listed buildings are there in Launceston?

Historic England lists 205 buildings inside Launceston’s built-up area: 7 Grade I, 14 Grade II* and 184 Grade II.

What are the Grade I listed buildings in Launceston?

7, including Church of St Mary Magdalene, Church of St Stephen, Launceston Castle Keep and attached buildings, The North Gatehouse of Launceston Castle and Attached Walls, The South Gate and The South Gatehouse of Launceston Castle and Attached Buildings.

Which street in Launceston has the most listed buildings?

Church Street (14), Duke Street (9) and St Stephen's Hill (9) have the most listed entries named by an address. One entry can be a whole terrace.

Are there scheduled monuments in Launceston?

Yes, 7 scheduled monuments, including Dunheved Cross, 80m west of Launceston Hospital, Early medieval urban burh remains E of St Stephen's parish church, including remains of the early medieval Christian enclosure and monastery, Late medieval packhorse bridge 35m north of St Thomas's Church, Newport and Launceston Castle motte, bailey and shell keep.

How many conservation areas are there in Launceston?

1, covering about 53 hectares of the town. The largest is Launceston.

When were Launceston’s buildings listed?

The first in 1950; the most, 107, in 1972.

Are there old photos of Launceston?

Yes: 8 public-domain photos and postcards from 1890 to 1925, all on this page.

How old are the homes in Launceston?

26% of homes were built before 1919 and 34% before 1940, from the Valuation Office Agency’s council tax records (March 2025).

© Historic England 2026. Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. The National Heritage List for England is the official, up-to-date register of all nationally protected historic buildings and sites in England; check an entry on Historic England’s website before relying on it.

Sources: Historic England, National Heritage List for England (listed buildings, scheduled monuments, registered parks and gardens, battlefields, World Heritage Sites), October 2026, inside the ONS 2022 built-up-area boundary · Valuation Office Agency, Council Tax: stock of properties by build period (31 March 2025) · TownRatings grades: our own summary of the data, ranked against UK towns only · Historic England conservation areas (supplied by local planning authorities; October 2026). All under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026 (ONS boundaries). Northern Ireland: Source: NISRA; contains Land & Property Services data and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland information, © Crown copyright, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Scotland: contains National Records of Scotland data, Registers of Scotland data and SEPA data, © Crown copyright / © SEPA 2025, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.