Launceston is a community, ancient borough, as well as civil parish in Cornwall, England, UK. It is 1 mile (1.6 kilometres) west of the middle stage of the River Tamar, which constitutes practically the whole border in between Cornwall and also Devon. The landscape of the town is normally high specifically at a sharp south-western ridge topped by Launceston Castle. These gradients fall down to the River Kensey as well as smaller tributaries. The town centre itself is bypassed and also is no more literally a major road. The A388 still runs through the town near to the centre. The town continues to be figuratively the "portal to Cornwall", as a result of having the A30, one of the two dual carriageways right into the area, pass straight next to the community. The other double carriageway and also different main point of access is the A38 at Saltash over the Tamar Bridge and also was finished in 1962. There are smaller points of entry to Cornwall on small roads. Launceston Steam Railway narrow-gauge heritage railway runs as a visitor attraction throughout the summertime. It was recovered for visual as well as commercial heritage purposes and also runs along a short rural route, it is prominent with visitors however does not compete much of the year. Launceston Castle was constructed by Robert, Count of Mortain (half-brother of William the Conqueror) c. 1070 to manage the surrounding location. Launceston was the caput of the feudal barony of Launceston as well as of the Earldom of Cornwall till replaced by Lostwithiel in the 13th century. Launceston was later the county town of Cornwall till 1835 when Bodmin replaced it. 2 civil parishes serve the town and its borders, of which the main more built-up management unit housed 8,952 citizens at the 2011 census. 3 selecting wards consist of recommendation to the town, their overall population, from 2011 census information, being 11,837 and 2 clerical churches serve the previous solitary parish, with three churches and a huge swathe of land to the north and also west part of the location. Launceston's adage "Royale et Loyale" (English translation: Royal and Loyal) is a referral to its adherence to the Cavalier cause throughout the English Civil War of the mid-17th century.