Liskeard flourished as a result of its mineral wealth (tin, copper and granite). It was one of the five original stannary towns (in miners brought their tin for weighing,assaying and taxation). The town lies above the Looe river valley, about 14 miles west of the River Tamar.
Last century a canal linked Liskeard with Looe on the coast in 1828. It enabled ore and stone to be transported down to Looe, but by 1859 the railway had taken over. This line is still open as a single track branch line along scenic wooded riverbanks, the Looe Valley Line.
Buildings in the town include Cornwall's largest parish church, a Victorian Italianate guildhall, an 1833 coaching inn, several Georgian houses, Stuart House where Charles I stayed for 6 nights in 1644. There are a number of murals in the town, including one in Pigmeadow Lane depicting the history of Liskeard from earliest times, thought to the industrial revolution, and the arrival of the railway.
St Martin's Church is 15th century with 17th century pulpit and 1902 tower. It is one of the largest churches in the county.
To the west of Liskeard is Dobwalls Theme park
At St Cleer, on the edge of the moors, a Holy Well can be found in a granite baptistery. This well was used to treat those deemed insane, who were thrown repeatedly into the water until they became sane (or presumably died).
North of St Cleer stands King Doniert's Stone, on which a Latin inscription asks for prayers for the Cornish King, who drowned in 875.
The Neolithic burial chamber, Trethevy Quoit (c3500BC), with five huge stones support a massive capston is also near St Cleer
Liskeard, Cornwall genealogical information from Genuki