Padstow is a market town, sea-port and parish, in the hundred of Pyder; 143 (243) miles from London, 75 from Exeter and 14 from Bodmin; situated on an estuary of the rivers Alder and Camel (which flow into the British Channel), and about two miles from the entrance to the harbour. The town is of great antiquity, and in the earliest records of Cornish history was known under the name of Lodenek. In the early part of the sixth century a monastery was founded here, under the patronage of St Petroc, which, having progressively increased in extent and holy reputation, was visited by Athelstan, when he made his triumphant entry into Cornwall in 926. This monarch conferred important privileges on both the monastery and the town; the latter of which he named after himself, Adelstow or Aldestow. In ancient records Patrickstowe and Petrocstowe are equally common; from the former of these, Padestow or Padstow, is evidently derived. The entire northern coast of the county does not present any harbour claiming superior accommodation to that of Padstow; and although its navigation, like some others, is inconvenienced by sand shoals, the centre of its channel is sufficiently deep for vessels of considerable burthen: upwards of one hundred belong to the port; and there are several merchants of high respectability, who trade with London, Liverpool, Bristol, Wales, Ireland, America, and the Baltic. The chief imports are groceries, bale-goods, coals, iron, timber and provisions; the export trade is principally in corn. Padstow was incorporated in the 25th (year of the reign) of Elizabeth (I); but about the middle of the seventeenth century the corporate privileges were permitted to fall into desuetude, and the government of the town was in consequence confided to the county magistrates, who hold petty sessions at St Columb.
The places of worship are the church, dedicated to St Petrock, a spacious, light and rather elegant structure, which has recently undergone a complete restoration, and received the addition of several stained glass windows - the greater part contributed by Miss Brune - the remainder by the inhabitants. The living of Padstow is a vicarage, in the presentation of Charles Prideaux Brune, Esq.; the present incumbent is the Rev. Richard Tyacke. There are chapels for Wesleyan Methodists and Bible Christians. A national school for children of both sexes, with a small endowment for the girls, and a donation bequeathed for poor persons not receiving parochial relief, are all that may be particularized under the head of charities. The market is on Saturday; and the fairs, now scarcely observed, are in April and September. The parish contained, in 1841, 2,145 inhabitants; and in 1851, 2,185

(Transcriber's Notes in brackets)

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