iKnow Cornwall
Liskeard Tourist Information Stannary Town Cornwall UK
Liskeard on the southern edge of Bodmin doesn't generally feature much in tourism guides - it's a shame as this old stannary town makes an excellent attractive base for exploring both Bodmin Moor and the South East Cornish Coast. It's little centre has much appeal, with a well stocked tourist information centre and old markings of it's stannary past with the guildhall and marvellous heritage museum which holds considerable information on the area's mining history. There's a few choice attractions nearby too including Carnglze Slate Caverns, the pretty village of St Neots and the Yarg Cheese Farm.
Liskeard Tourist Information Centre, Foresters Hall, Pike Street, Liskeard, Cornwall. PL14 3JE. Tel: 01579 349148.
Liskeard Museum & Town
Liskeard is an ancient Cornish market and stannary town, important with Cornwall's mining history as a stannary powerhouse explored in-depth in the Liskeard Heritage Museum. The town itself has a friendly village feel, with numerous small businesses and specialist shops, some charming inns and a good sprinkling of Liskeard guest houses and Liskeard B&Bs. Well worth considering as a quiet base for exploring Bodmin Moor and the East Cornish coast.
Around the town, which sits just above the Looe River Valley and is conveniently positioned for trips to Looe, there are numerous pretty Victorian fronted small shops, and numerous small food shops selling Cornish Cheeses, wine and jewellery. It's quiet and traffic free too, with a good leisure centre offering extensive sports facilities. There's also a selection of interesting murals around the town, one of the most interesting being one depicting the implications of the industrial revolution on the town and the coming of the railways.
Visit the Liskeard Heritage Museum to discover the history of the town. Liskeard was mentioned in the Domesday Book in 1086, and was given a charter in 1240 allowing it to hold regular cattle markets. As depicted in some of the murals about town, Liskeard has changed through the years from Medieval Market town to industrial hub and stannary mining centre in the 18th century through to the 19th century. If you're interested in buildings and architecture significantly associated with the industrial revolution then Liskeard doesn't disappoint. Walk about the town to view the old Guildhall, and numerous churches including the 15th century Church of St Martin, the Methodist Chapel (Methodism has been traditionally strong here), and there's a Friends Meeting House actually established by George Fox himself - obviously he had some success in Cornwall before and after his time at Launceston Castle Jail (see Launceston tourist info).
Liskeard & District Museum, Foresters Hall, Pike Street, Liskeard. Tel: 01579 346087. Opening hours are weekdays 11am-4pm, Saturdays 11am - 1.30pm.
Carnglaze Slate Caverns near Liskeard
A fascinating natural attraction situated near to Liskeard are the three underground caverns set in the idyllic wooded hillside of the Loveny valley at St. Neot, near Liskeard.
The tour of Carnglaze caverns takes about 40 minutes. The caverns were carved by local slate workers, and there's an underground subterranean lake too. Make sure you take a warm jumpers and some good shoes as it's a constant 10 degrees centigrade down here. They store Rum here too.
Classical music events, weddings and celebrations are also offered here. Check the website right for full details.
Carnglaze Caverns & The Rum Store, St Neot, Liskeard, Cornwall. PL14 6HQ. Tel: 01579 320251.
