Leskeard is situate in the hundred of West, and hath to the west St.
Pinnock, to the north St. Clair, to the east Menhinnet, to the south
St. Kaine, and St. Matin’s juxta Looe.
As for the name of this town and parish, I derive it from les, a court
or palace, and kaer, a fortified town, as having been for many ages a
seat and castle of the ancient Princes and Dukes of Cornwall. Mr.
Carew’s derivation from les-broad and ker-gone, is so much out of the
way that it is not worth confuting; neither doth he himself put any
stress on it.
This parish is a vicarge, valued in the King’s Books at £18. 13_s._
10_d._ The patronage in Mr. Blatchford.
This church, in A. D. 1291, 29 Edward I., was valued at £8. and the
vicarage at £2. 13_s._ 4_d._ it being appropriated to the Priory of
Launceston.
The great duchy manor of the same name, including the whole parish and
borough, I shall first begin with it, and then go on with the town,
the church, castle, and the other most noted places in it.