THE ancient capital of Cornwall has a rich and extensive history, and this book — titled Launceston as part of the Francis Frith Town and City Memories Collection, and written by former teacher, journalist and author Martin Dunning — provides a fascinating portrait of life in the town from years gone by:

The sight of Launceston huddled on its hilltop, dominated by the looming bulk of the Castle and the tower of St Mary Magdalene, is a familiar one for hundreds of thousands of drivers who annually speed past along the A30 on their way into Cornwall.

Most probably they do not give the town a second thought, forgetting or not knowing that as recently as the 1970s Launceston was still, in a very physical way, the Gateway to Cornwall.

Pictures dating back as far as 1893 illustrate just how much has changed in Launceston over the past 120 years, while noting the historic features that remain the same to this day.

For the full report, and a round-up of the area news and sport, see this week's edition of the Post.