Lostwithiel, small town and civil parish in Cornwall
Lostwithiel is a small town in Cornwall situated in a quiet valley at the start of the Fowey estuary. The settlement has narrow cobbled streets, stone houses with slate roofs, a 14th-century bridge spanning the river with six pointed arches, and the remains of Restormel Castle rising on a hill that overlooks the town.
The town was founded in the 12th century when Norman lords controlled the area and granted it a town charter in 1189. Lostwithiel declined economically in the 17th century after royalist forces camped nearby during the 1644 conflict, and river silting later cut off ships from the quays.
The name Lostwithiel comes from Cornish words meaning 'tail of the forest'. Local people keep traditions alive through annual events like markets and boat races, gathering in narrow streets where old shops and pubs remain gathering places for the community.
The town is easily reached by train on the main Plymouth-Penzance line or by car via the A390 road. Buses connect the center to nearby areas, and exploring on foot through the narrow streets is best for understanding the compact layout and visiting historic sites like the bridge and castle ruins.
The town served as Cornwall's capital during the 13th and 14th centuries but lost that status as river silting closed its port. Traces of this former importance remain visible in palace foundations and fortifications now scattered across the site, reminders of when this was a seat of regional power.
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