Launceston is a community, old district, as well as civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is 1 mile (1.6 kilometres) west of the middle phase of the River Tamar, which makes up practically the whole boundary in between Cornwall and Devon. The landscape of the town is usually steep especially at a sharp south-western ridge topped by Launceston Castle. These slopes fall down to the River Kensey and also smaller sized tributaries. The community centre itself is bypassed and also is no more literally a main road. The A388 still runs through the town close to the centre. The town stays figuratively the "portal to Cornwall", as a result of having the A30, among the two dual carriageways right into the county, pass directly beside the town. The various other dual carriageway as well as alternative main point of entry is the A38 at Saltash over the Tamar Bridge as well as was finished in 1962. There are smaller points of entry to Cornwall on minor roadways. Launceston Steam Railway narrow-gauge heritage railway runs as a vacationer attraction throughout the summer season. It was restored for visual as well as commercial heritage purposes as well as leaves a short country path, it is popular 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 regulate the surrounding location. Launceston was the caput of the feudal barony of Launceston and also of the Earldom of Cornwall until replaced by Lostwithiel in the 13th century. Launceston was later on the county town of Cornwall till 1835 when Bodmin changed it. 2 civil parishes serve the community and also its borders, of which the central more built-up management unit housed 8,952 homeowners at the 2011 census. Three selecting wards consist of recommendation to the community, their total population, from 2011 census information, being 11,837 and two clerical churches offer the previous single church, with 3 churches and a big swathe of land to the north and also west part of the location. Launceston's motto "Royale et Loyale" (English translation: Royal and Loyal) is a reference to its adherence to the Cavalier reason throughout the English Civil War of the mid-17th century.