Liskeard (generally pronounced Lis-KARD, with stress on the second syllable) (Cornish: Lys Kerwyd or Lyskerrys), is an ancient stannary and market town at the head of the River Looe valley in southeast Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is the administrative centre of the Caradon District.
The town is about 14 miles west of the Tamar river. Liskeard railway station, on the London to Penzance Cornish Main Line, and the A38 trunk road provide the town with rapid access to Plymouth, the rest of Cornwall and the motorway network. The town is also served by the Looe Valley branch line to Looe.
Within easy reach to the south of Liskeard are the coves and resorts of the south Cornish coast, whilst the vast rugged expanse of Bodmin Moor lies to the north.
The town went through a period of economic prosperity during the pre-20th century boom in tin mining. The town boasts the second largest church (St. Martin's) in Cornwall, the oldest part of which dates back to the 15th century. It is built on the site of the former Norman church
History
Liskeard was granted its market charter by Richard, Earl of Cornwall (brother of Henry III) in 1240. Since then, it has been an important centre for agriculture. During the boom mining years it was a key player in that industry as it was a stannary and coinage town. In the year 1294, Liskeard sent two members to Parliament, but this was reduced to one by the 1832 Reform Act. The MPs included the historian and author Edward Gibbon, who wrote the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, and Isaac Foot.
Town Trails
There are three trails, each has there own blue plaque to commemorate them (unveiled by former town mayor, Sandra Preston)
* Footpath from the town to the railway station. The path was built by Thomas Lang, who was a former mayor, in 1890.
* Trail around the north of the town centre, including the Parade and the ornamental fountain. The fountain was given to the town by Michael Loam, who's father invented the Man Engine (a device for lifting men up and down mineshafts, and used in many mines throughout Cornwall & West Devon).
* Trail around the southern part of the town, and commemorates Lt. Lapenotière, who brought back the news of the Battle of Trafalgar to England. For Lt. Lapenotière troubles, he was given a silver spice sprinkler by King George III. The sprinkler is still owned by the mayor's office, and is exhibited occasionally.
