The Tamar

The monks of Tewkesbury Abbey are believed to have built the parish church of St James the Great. This church is on the Pilgrim's Path of St James of Compostella. A recent entry in Cornwalls Visitor's Book records the visit of a true pilgrim from the USA following this path. The church of St. James is a building of stone in the Perpendicular style, consisting of chancel, north and south chapels, nave, aisles, south porch and an embattled western tower, with crocketed pinnacles, containing 6 bells. The only remnant of the ancient church, is a fine specimen of Late Norman work of four orders, and on the porch are the arms of John Grenville, rector, with the date 1567 and the legend "Porta Celi" carved thereon. The register dates from the yeare 1539.
The port of Padstow (ancient name "petrockstow") is a charming fishing town that has the advantage of being about a half mile inland of open sea and thus is well sheltered in the mouth of the camel estuary. The register of baptisms dates from the yeare 1611; marriages and burials, 1599.
Launceston (formerly Dunheved) Castle

In 1656 George Fox, founder of the Quakers, did an 8 month stretch in Launceston. There was a prison in use here long after the castle ceased serving any military purpose. Penstowe Manor was once the home of Mrs Thynne. As a magistrate she penalised any Kilkhampton offender brought before her much more harshly than people from elsewhere. Present day motorists have this formidable lady to thank for the easier gradient on the hilly road from Stratton. Having quarrelled with the Vicar of St James she began attending services in Stratton. In bad weather her horses were unable to negotiate the steep slopes of the narrow road through Ivyleaf Combe. Her ghost is said to haunt the house, once the home of the Grenvilles.

South Petherwin The church of St. Paternus is an ancient building of Polyphant stone and granite, in the Perpendicular style, consisting of chancel, nave of four bays, aisles, north and south porches and an embattled western tower with pinnacles, containing a clock and 5 bells. Two of the south windows retain heraldic shields, and there are monuments to Ambrose Manaton, of Trecarrel, ob. 1651; Katherine (Trefusis), wife of Richard Killion esq. ob. 1666; Charity (Couch), wife of William Prowt, of Karnieke, ob. 1676; several members of the Couch family, 1666-77; and a number of memorials of modern date. The register dates from the yeare 1656.

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In 1656 George Fox, founder of the Quakers, did an 8 month stretch in Launceston. There was a prison in use here long after the castle ceased serving any military purpose. Penstowe Manor was once the home of Mrs Thynne. As a magistrate she penalised any Kilkhampton offender brought before her much more harshly than people from elsewhere. Present day motorists have this formidable lady to thank for the easier gradient on the hilly road from Stratton. Having quarrelled with the Vicar of St James she began attending services in Stratton. In bad weather her horses were unable to negotiate the steep slopes of the narrow road through Ivyleaf Combe. Her ghost is said to haunt the house, once the home of the Grenvilles.
	South Petherwin The church of St. Paternus is an ancient building of Polyphant stone and granite, in the Perpendicular style, consisting of chancel, nave of four bays, aisles, north and south porches and an embattled western tower with pinnacles, containing a clock and 5 bells. Two of the south windows retain heraldic shields, and there are monuments to Ambrose Manaton, of Trecarrel, ob. 1651; Katherine (Trefusis), wife of Richard Killion esq. ob. 1666; Charity (Couch), wife of William Prowt, of Karnieke, ob. 1676; several members of the Couch family, 1666-77; and a number of memorials of modern date. The register dates from the yeare 1656.