Launcells: St Swithin, Well House and Footpaths

Launcells combines the architectural history of St Swithin with public footpaths in the Parish of Launcells. It also features a well house at a holy spring, an adjoining bridge and local history. If you are looking for a hotel in Launcells, these themes can help you narrow down your choice of destination. They offer different points of interest: historic buildings, local traditions and outdoor trails.

St Swithin and local history

The present building of St Swithin’s Church dates from the late 15th century and contains fragments of an earlier church from the 14th century. An exposed section of wall painting is on the north wall above the box pews; at the east end of the chancel stands a stone plaque dated 1569. Together, these details form a timeline from the earlier church through the late medieval building to a 16th-century reference.

The oldest surviving gravestone in the church is made of granite and forms part of the entrance archway. The grave of Sir Goldsworthy Gurney is in the churchyard of St Swithin. The churchyard also includes a conservation area, carefully managed to support insects and plant life. Historic memorials therefore sit alongside an area dedicated to caring for nature.

Well house and bridge

About 40 metres south of St Swithin’s Church is the well house and bridge ensemble. The well house stands at a holy spring; the adjoining bridge crosses a stream. The structures come from different historical periods: the well house has medieval origins, while the bridge dates from the 19th century. It is therefore worth considering the two separately when determining their dates.

Public footpaths in the Parish of Launcells

There are 12 public footpaths in the Parish of Launcells, with a total length of just over 4 miles (6.6 km). One public footpath in the Parish leads to Bude-Stratton. The number and total length describe the extent of the network; the path to Bude-Stratton gives a specific destination for one route. Check local path conditions before setting out for a walk.

A previous walk organised by the Launcells History Group followed the footpath to Strawberry Bank and then the “Seven Bridges” footpath from Diddies to Stratton. This route provides a specific example alongside the overview of the entire path network.

A historical look at local recipes

The Launcells Parish Recipe Book dates from 1910. It adds another historical perspective to the architectural history: local culinary traditions. For choosing your trip, it offers a separate point of interest alongside the churches, well house and bridge. The local history therefore encompasses both phases of construction and a dated recipe book from the early 20th century.

Discover more destinations: Lanlivery, Boyton, Egloskerry, Saint Clether, St Keverne, Gulval, Edmonton, Truro

For the main travel overview: Cornwall.