More information : (SX 331846) The present town of Launceston
comprises the Saxon town of St Stephen, Lan-stefan-ton, the
later borough in the suburb of Newport (see SX 38 NW 40) and
the medieval town of Dunheved which absorbed them.
There was a vill of Dunheved on the western slopes of Windmill
Hill (SX 332841), the 'Dun' indicating an earlier earthwork or
maybe just the hill.
Domesday records that Robert, Earl of Mortain built Dunheved
Castle (SX 38 SW 54) and transferred the market from St
Stephens. The new town was walled and gated (see map diagram)
from early 13th century, to form a common defence with the
castle.
In 1201, it is represented as a borough at the eyre and was
granted extensive privileges; the earliest known charter dates
to 1225, with the chapel of St Mary (SX 38 SW 59) being made
parochial in 1380.
(See also subsidiary cards and map of Launceston by R & OB
Peter). (1-3)
Launceston is mentioned in 1086 as a Domesday borough when deprived of its market.
During the period 1141-67 a charter of Reginald Earl of Cornwall, to the canons and their burgesses (of St.Stephens) confirming all the liberties of a free borough, which were retained when the count of Mortain transferred the Sunday market to Dunheved. (4)
In 1086 the market (at St.Stephens) is mentioned which was removed to Dunheved in 1066 by the count of Mortain. In 1201 Dunheved is represented as a borough by its own jury at the eyre. During the period 1227-42 Dunheved was made a free borough by Richard earl of Cornwall, with a grant of land to the burgesses to build a guild hall. (5) |