More information : The suggested course of the Town Walls was shown on
Peter's plan (dated 1882) and described as extending for 6
furlongs (1.2 km) and being 6 ft thick. The only extant remains
were at Blindhole (SX 33298461) near the South Gate
(SX 38 SW 156), and near the north west entrance to the Castle
Green (SX 33048465). (1)
"The only traces which remain" are close to the South Gate". (2)
(SX 33048465) Town Wall (NR) (Course of) (NAT) (twice) (3)
Launceston town walls grade 2; probably 12th - 13th century. A
200 yd length of the ruined wall may be traced from a point NE
of the Southgate (approximately SX 33268455) to a point
immediately west of Dockacre House (approximately SX 33288470).
Walls accessible from Angel Hill and the Old Vicarage and
generally 6' to 8' high, there being a slightly higher section
at the north end. (4)
King and Sheppard record extant remains of the town wall
visible between SX 33188381 and SX 33288458. (5)
The majority of walls in the town are of rag with lime mortar
and some of them follow the course suggested by Peter, but
without the thickness or height required for a Town Wall.
Only one section of 9.5m length at SX 33298461 (Blindhole) is
of the expected width, 6 ft (1.8m); it is about 2.3m high, in
fair condition, and in part acts as a back wall to a building.
A further 6.0m of walling at foundation level is just visible
adjoining the wall to the north. Remains of walling at the
South Gate (SX 38 SW 56) and at the north-west entrance to the
Castle Green are really part of the entrances and not Town Wall
proper. The course shown on the OS 25" up to 1952 has evidently
been taken from Peter's plan.
Revised at 1:2500 on MSD. (6)
Ruins of town walls. Probably C12. Local slatestone rubble. Thick walls with parts surviving up to 8 feet high. Visible remains extending from a point a little to the north east of the Southgate (qv) to a point adjoining the walls of St. Dominic House (qv). Upgraded to GRADE II*. (7)
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