Autumn is Causley's Launceston
As autumn draws in, Launceston’s streets come alive with the echoes of Charles Causley’s poetry. This historic town— Causley’s lifelong home—is never more alive than when the leaves turn and the evenings shorten. Best known for blending the everyday with the ethereal in his work, Causley found inspiration in Launceston’s rhythms, especially during the season of the spirits.
Autumn is Causley's Launceston
As autumn draws in, Launceston’s streets come alive with the echoes of Charles Causley’s poetry. This historic town— Causley’s lifelong home—is never more alive than when the leaves turn and the evenings shorten. Best known for blending the everyday with the ethereal in his work, Causley found inspiration in Launceston’s rhythms, especially during the season of the spirits.

His cottage Cyprus Well, tucked away on Ridgegrove Hill, remains a sanctuary of words and wonder for those who stay there. Here, where the poet lived and worked, his verses resonate—poems like On All Soul’s Day that stir with the supernatural, set ‘between/the midnight strokes of one and two’ in a grieving household, giving shape to shadows.
Autumn, a season he infused with mystery, suits the shifting atmosphere and the quiet power of memory. Just a short walk away, the Causley Trust’s bookshop in Merchant House invites visitors to explore his legacy and browse. Housed in a beautifully restored building in the town centre, it offers not only the chance to buy his works but also a warm connection to Launceston’s creative life. A much-used book is left open for visitors to record their own memories of the poet.
As the season turns, the Causley Trust is seeking volunteers—kindred spirits who feel the tug of story. Whether you love books, poetry, or the charm of old buildings, there’s a place for you on the team. Like autumn’s own call to gather and reflect, volunteering is a way to connect with something timeless.
Come and walk Causley’s paths, listen to the rustle of his poems in the leaves, and help keep his words alive in the heart of Launceston. This autumn, email info@causleytrust.org, and step into the story.






