The outstanding feature of the Church is its Lantern Spire. The tower is square and buttressed and rests on the North and South sides on arches which were, at one time, open and formed a right of way through the tower. This was closed and doors fixed at the time of the restoration of the Church in 1878-9. Surmounting the tower is the very beautiful, octagonal Lantern Spire built in the Early English style of architecture.

The spire was struck by lightning in 1757 and severely damaged. In January 1876 a violent gale, almost amounting to a cyclone, passed over the town when the tower was again damaged, shattering the stone cross with which the spire was finished.

The most ancient monument in the Church is a brass to the memory of Tristram Curtys who represented Lostwithiel in Parliament 1419-1421.

During the occupation of Lostwithiel by Parliamentary forces in the Civil War, the Church was used as a stable for their horses. According to records taken from a diary of 1644 there is an entry which read “In contempt of Christianity, Religion and the Church they brought a horse to the font, and there, with their kind of ceremonies, did as they called it, christen the horse and called him by name of Charles in contempt of His Sacred Majesty.”

The font is made of Pentewan stone and is thought to be dated about the middle of the 13th century, sometime in the reign of King Henry III.

There is an ancient Cornish Cross in the Churchyard. Stocks in the Church Porch are made to accommodate three people and A ONE LEGGED MAN!

St Saviour’s Church is a small Church on the Bridgend side of the river.

The castle stands approximately one mile from Lostwithiel, a drive or walk along a pleasant, tree lined lane, just above the river Fowey. It is difficult to exactly date the castle but 1100 would seem to be a likely date. In the late 12th Century the castle and its estates passed into the hands of the noble, Robert de Cardinan who chose Lostwithiel as the centre for economic expansion and obtained Royal permission for the holding of a weekly market.

In 1270, Prince Richard, younger brother of Henry III, bought Restormel from Isolda, the last of the de Cardinan family. Two years later the Prince died.

Edmund succeeded his father, who had made good use of his inheritance. Lostwithiel soon became the capital of the mining industry and much of the development and improvement of the castle came at this time, financed by the profits from the mining. In fact, it was then that the castle took on the appearance that it has today. In 1337 Edward the Black Prince, eldest son of Edward III was
created Duke of Cornwall, starting the line of Royal Dukes up to the present Duke of Cornwall, Prince Charles.

There is written evidence that the Black Prince made two visits to the castle and tradition has it that he did indeed spend a great deal of time there and took a direct interest in the administration of Duchy lands.

After the 14th century, Restormel, as with other strongholds in Cornwall who had lost much of their power, had by the time of the Civil War become very dilapidated. It was held by the Parliamentarians, but the old defences were no match for the 17th century artillery and the Royalists, under Sir Richard Grenville, were able to take it after only a few days’ siege. The Royalists abandoned the castle almost immediately and it has not been lived in since.

The castle became a derelict, ivy clad monument to the past with a strange beauty but, in recent times, it has been tastefully restored, first by the Ministry of Works, followed by the Department of the Environment and now in the hands of English Heritage where plays and pageants are held to bring back some elements of its past glory.

As part of a Community Fire Safety programme, Cornwall County Fire Brigade is offering occupiers in your area the opportunity of a free home fire safety check. If you would like us to return to carry out a home fire risk assessment, call the Fire Safety Policy Unit on 01872-323244 or Freephone 0800-3581-999.

Alternatively, write to them at Cornwall County Fire Brigade, Freepost (SWB999), Truro, Cornwall TR1 3ZZ, providing your name, address and phone number.

The Centre is used by the Church and a range of other groups from the town as a venue for meetings and activities.

Our Sunday Club meets here twice a month during term time. There are no regular Sunday Services but a said Eucharist is held each Wednesday at 10am.

This small, isolated and very peaceful chapel is open throughout the year to visitors.

During the Summer months there is a monthly evensong on 4th Sunday of the month at 6.30pm but the main Sunday Services are held at St Winnow parish church.

The main Sunday service is held at 11am. For further details of services, facilities and special events, please contact the Curate, Revd Alison Munro-Smith, on 01208 873805. Otherwise, do check the noticeboards or pick up a copy of The Bridge, our parish magazine, from any of the churches in the Benefice.

Our Location: Church Lane, Lostwithiel, Cornwall PL22 0EQ

Run by volunteers, its purpose is to provide a warm safe environment for the young people of the community to have fun, socialise and develop their knowledge and skills. Regular club sessions are interspersed with art and music workshops and other activities.

Opening Tuesday evenings from 7 to 9 pm for the music (dj) workshop and Thursday from 7 to 9pm for the Drop-in evening.

For more information visit Oasis-Youth call Richard on 07747 343637 or email rich at oasis-youth dot org dot uk.

With integral kitchen facilities, the club room is also available for hire and ideal for small group meetings and children’s parties etc. Booking enquiries through the Community Centre Reception (01208 872207)

The Community Centre was opened in 1983 to provide much needed facilities for the local community. The wide range of activities available at the Centre can be seen below, but new activities are often added so if there is something you are interested in that is currently not included then just call us. The Centre is also available for hire for private parties, weddings, concerts, markets etc.

REGULAR ACTIVITIES IN THE COMMUNITY CENTRE INCLUDE
Monday
Playgroup 10am – noon
Headway Cornwall – Oasis Centre 10am – 4pm
Westcountry Embroiderers (twice monthly) 10.30am – 3.30pm
Luncheon Club for Senior Citizens 12noon – 4pm
Adult Education – Watercolour Art 1.30pm – 3.30pm
Weight Watchers 7pm
Yoga 7pm – 8.30pm
Badminton Club 8pm – 10pm

Tuesday
Playgroup 10am – noon
Yoga 4.30pm – 6pm
Rainbows 6pm – 7pm
Children’s Roller Disco 6pm – 7.45pm
Alcoholics Anonymous 7pm – 9pm
WEDNESDAY
Playgroup 10am – noon
Headway Cornwall – Oasis Centre 10am – 4pm
Lostwithiel Floral Art (once monthly) 1pm – 4pm
Martial Arts – Tsidkenu (Juniors and Adults) 5pm – 7.30pm
Fowey River Badminton Club 8pm – 10pm
THURSDAY
Playgroup 10am – noon
Mother & Toddler Group 10am – noon
Dance Movement Class 10am – 11.30am
Art Class 1pm – 4pm
Brownies 6pm – 7.30pm
Lostwithiel Short Mat Bowls Club 7pm – 10pm
FRIDAY
Playgroup 10am – noon
Local Produce Market (twice a month) 10am – 2pm
Friday Antiques Market (twice a month ) 11pm – 3pm
Bingo (twice monthly) 7.30pm
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
Always something going on including
Flea Markets & Car Boot Sales
Antique Fairs & Book and Postcard Fairs
Toy,Train and Dolls House Fairs
Lostwithiel Short Mat Bowling Club 7pm – 9pm The centre is also available for hire for:
Badminton, Squash and other sports
Parties, discos and concerts
Regular meetings, get togethers or AGMs
Please call for details on 01208 872207
Or email us at lca@lostwithieltic.org.uk
Lostwithiel Community Association is a Reg. Charity No. 281406
Further information about activities can be found in the Event Calendar section of this site.

Situated at the tidal reach of the river Fowey, in a beautiful wooded valley the town lies tucked away just off the A390, a haven of peace and tranquility.

Central in Cornwall, it is within easy reach of the coast and the moors, and well placed for exploring the whole of the county, an ideal centre for a holiday.

Lostwithiel was a ‘new town’ 800 years ago, founded by the Normans for the export of tin. Then the river was wide and deep, and sea going ships tied up along the quay, loading the tin destined for France and the Mediterranean ports. The town was officially known as ‘The Port of Fawi’, and soon became the second busiest port on the south coast of England.

The name ‘Lostwithiel’ comes from two old Cornish words meaning ‘the place at the tail end of the woodland’, and looking down the valley from Restormel Castle (the home of the Norman lords who built the town) one can see how it came by this name.

In the 13th century Lostwithiel was further developed by the Earls of Cornwall to become the County Capital. It was the centre for the administration of county affairs and the main trading centre for tin.

Earl Edmund called Lostwithiel ‘Fairest of Small Cities’ and ‘Lily of the Valley’ and the mediaeval church, bridge and part of the Great Hall (now known as the Duchy Palace) still stand as testimony to its original splendour.

Ironically, tin, the source of the town’s wealth, gradually caused its decline. Rubble, carried down by tributaries of the Fowey River from the mines on the moors, silted up the river, preventing big ships from reaching the quay.

A further 600 years of history have left their mark. The town suffered during the Civil War, when it was occupied by Parliamentary soldiers and besieged by Royalists throughout August 1644. Eventually the Parliamentarians were routed, but the town was left shattered, and its people starving. Gradually they recovered, and there was much rebuilding in the late 17th century.

John Betjeman is reputed to have said ‘there is history in every stone in Lostwithiel’, and this is evident to the interested observer who walks the streets and lanes of the town.

Now it is a peaceful, friendly place; parking is free, and members of staff at the Tourist Information Centre, (in the Community Centre adjacent to the car park) are always ready to help visitors.

Set in this historic background are numerous antique shops specialising in high quality furniture, curios and collectibles, ceramics, Victoriana and glorious junk! Other shops specialise in contemporary arts and crafts, paintings, lace, patchwork. One has to explore the hidden lanes in the town to find some of these.

Words by Barbara Fraser