BOSCASTLE ( a corruption for Botreaux’s Castle) is a small seaport town, in the parishes of Minster and Forrabury, beautifully situated in a romantic valley near the north coast of the county, 4 ½ miles from Camelford station, opened August, 1893, on the Launceston and Wadebridge section of the London and South Western railway, and it is 18 miles west from Launceston, 17 north-east from Wadebridge, 18 north from Bodmin and 6 north from Camelford, in the North Eastern division of the county, Lesnewth hundred and petty sessional division, Camelford union and county court district, rural deanery of Trigg Minor, archdeaconry of Bodmin and diocese of Truro. The harbour of Boscastle, a creek appertaining to the port of Padstow, is of some importance, since the lofty hills inclosing it afford a good shelter, and there is no other harbour near; in order to break the swell of the sea, which is considerable, and to facilitate trade, a small pier was erected here at an early date; it was repaired by the inhabitants about 1584, and again in 1740, by Cotton Amy esq. Lime, coals and general merchandise are imported, and attempts have been made to establish a pilchard fishery: the scenery around is rugged, but magnificent, and as a summer residence it is in every way delightful, and several good houses have recently been erected (1897) for the convenience of visitors. There formerly stood, near the centre of the town, a chapel dedicated to St. James the Apostle, some fragments of which yet remain; in 1800 it was new roofed, but subsequently was allowed to go to decay.

The parish of FORRABURY contains the greater part of Boscastle, and extends to the sea shore. The church of St. Symphorian is a building of stone, in the Early Norman and later Early English styles, consisting of chancel, nave, aisle, south transept, or chapel, south porch and an embattled western tower of three stages, with pinnacles, containing one bell, cast in 1812: the font, rudely worked, is of porphyry, and belongs to the Transition Norman period and consists of a circular bowl ornamented with incised lines intersecting each other in a kind of lozenge pattern on one side and with a sort of zigzag on the other : there are memorials to several rectors and to various other persons : the church has 200 sittings : the communion plate includes a chalice dating from 1779—80: in the churchyard are stones inscribed to Mary (Cottle), wife of Samuel Robins, rector of Revalga, ob. 1688 ; to Roger Gayer, gent. ob. 25 Dec. 1647, and Joan, wife of John Tubb, ob. 1644; south of the churchyard stands an ancient circular-headed monolith, 5 feet 7 inches in height and 1 foot 4 inches wide, with a Maltese cross incised on the obverse side of the head, and on the reverse a Greek cross. The register dates from the year 1710. The living is a rectory, net yearly value £47, including residence and 11 acres of glebe, in the gift of H. P. Leschallas esq. and held since 1895 by the Rev. Henry Mitchinson Coverley Price M.A. of St. John's. College, Cambridge, who is also rector of the adjoining parish of Minster. There is a Wesleyan chapel at Boscastle, seating 250 persons; a Bible Christian chapel, built about 1859, and Free Methodist chapel, rebuilt in 1825 and seating 400. There is an almshouse for six poor people of good character, endowed by the will of Sir John Cotton kt. dated 16 Jan. 1701, with a sum of 5s. weekly, to be divided amongst the inmates in doles of 8d. and 1s. Forrabury Common, to the north of the church, and 39 acres in extent, is used for feeding stock. Near the junction of the roads from Tregeare in St. Kew and Tintagel, is the base of a very fine wayside cross which once stood here; the shaft, 8 feet 5 inches high, and elaborately carved with interlaced work, stood for some time on Trekeek farm in Minster parish, and was used to support part of the working power of a threshing machine, but about 1893 it was replaced in its original position. In the parish are several ancient roads. Fairs are held August 5th and November 22nd, for lambs, sheep and cattle. Penally House is the residence of Col. William Sloggatt Hawker D.L., J.P. H. P. Leschallas esq. is lord of the manor, and Col. William Sloggatt Hawker; William Sloggatt Rosevere esq. of the Manor House, Tavistock, and Arthur Wade esq. of Boscastle, are the chief landowners. The soil is dark loam; the subsoil, rock and slate. The chief crops are wheat, barley, oats and turnips. The area is 485 acres, and the population in 1891 was 310; the rateable value of Forrabury, which includes a part of Boscastle, is £1,227, and the rateable value of the other part of Boscastle is included with Minster.

A School Board of 7 members for Boscastle United District was formed February 17, 1875; it comprises Forrabury, Minster & Trevalga; James Mitchell, clerk & attendance officer to the board.

Board School (girls & infants), built in 1879, for 116 children ; average attendance, 42. girls & 28 infants.