Boscastle
A Cornish harbour village that houses the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic, the world's largest collection of its kind.
Practised and told of here
Best time: Spring to autumn. The museum is closed in winter.
The museum was founded by Cecil Williamson, who opened the first version on the Isle of Man in 1951 and moved to Boscastle in 1960. It holds thousands of objects: charms, witch bottles, poppets, ritual tools, books and relics of folk magic.
The collection
The museum shows how ordinary people used magic for protection, cursing, healing and finding things. It contains objects from cunning folk, from ceremonial magicians and from the revival of witchcraft in the twentieth century, with attention to the harm done by witch trials.
The museum's history
Williamson sold it in 1996 to Graham King, and in 2013 it passed to a new owner, Simon Costin, who put it in the care of a charitable trust. The 2004 flood in Boscastle damaged the building badly, and it reopened after repairs.
The village
Boscastle's harbour is a National Trust property. Tintagel, a short drive away, is tied to the legend of King Arthur.
A respectful visit to Boscastle
Living communities are not a show. Ask before photographing a person or a ceremony, and follow local rules.
- The museum Allow a couple of hours and read the labels.
- The harbour Walk out along the old quay.
- Boscastle Visitor Centre Look at the history of the 2004 flood.
Written by the EveryJaadu desk with AI assistance. Background: "Museum of Witchcraft and Magic" on Wikipedia. Opening hours, markets and ceremonies change; check locally before travelling. If something is wrong, tell us.
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