Launceston is a community, ancient district, as well as civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is 1 mile (1.6 kilometres) west of the center stage of the River Tamar, which constitutes virtually the whole boundary between Cornwall and Devon. The landscape of the community is usually high specifically at a sharp south-western ridge topped by Launceston Castle. These slopes drop to the River Kensey and also smaller tributaries. The community centre itself is bypassed and is no more literally a major road. The A388 still goes through the community near the centre. The town stays figuratively the "entrance to Cornwall", due to having the A30, among both dual carriageways into the area, pass directly alongside the town. The other dual carriageway and also alternative main point of entrance is the A38 at Saltash over the Tamar Bridge and also was completed in 1962. There are smaller points of entry to Cornwall on minor roads. Launceston Steam Railway narrow-gauge heritage train runs as a visitor destination throughout the summer season. It was restored for aesthetic as well as commercial heritage functions and also runs along a brief country path, it is popular with site visitors yet does not run for much of the year. Launceston Castle was built by Robert, Count of Mortain (half-brother of William the Conqueror) c. 1070 to control the surrounding location. Launceston was the caput of the feudal barony of Launceston and of the Earldom of Cornwall till changed by Lostwithiel in the 13th century. Launceston was later on the county town of Cornwall up until 1835 when Bodmin changed it. Two civil parishes offer the town and its borders, of which the central even more built-up management unit housed 8,952 residents at the 2011 census. Three electoral wards include reference to the community, their complete population, from 2011 census data, being 11,837 as well as 2 ecclesiastical churches offer the former single parish, with three churches and a large swathe of land to the north as well as west part of the area. Launceston's adage "Royale et Loyale" (English translation: Royal and Loyal) is a reference to its adherence to the Cavalier cause during the English Civil War of the mid-17th century.