Edmund, the son of Richard Plantagenent (Earl of Cornwall and King of the Romans) was born on 26th. December 1249 at Berkhampstead, Hertfordshire. He was not invested with the title until the last days of Henry III's reign. After the death of Henry Edmund helped finance the newly crowned Edward I military campaigns to the extent, that on one occasion he placed the whole of the revenue of Cornwall at his disposal.
A religious man, who donated to the abbey at Hailes (founded by his father) a crystal vase containing the Holy Blood of the Lord, rebuilt it after a fire and endowed it with land at Helston. Edmund was also responsible for founding Rewley Abbey in Oxfordshire and gave it to the Cistercian order.
Edmund improved Restormel Castle by replacing the wooden
buildings in the keep at with stone structures. He made Lostwithiel the
county capital and built the 'Duchy Palace' including the Shire Hall,
Hall of Exchequer of the Earldom and the Coinage Hall. When he died 1
October 1300 at Ashbridge Abbey, Buckinghamshire of natural causes and
his bones were buried at Hailes. He was the last Earl of Cornwall to reside
in Cornwall.