Museums and Galleries

Museum of Witchcraft

The Harbour, Boscastle, Cornwall PL35 0HD

Tel: 01840 250111

e-mail: museumwitchcraft@aol.com

website: www.museumofwitchcraft.com

The Museum of Witchcraft in Boscastle houses the world's largest collection of witchcraft related artefacts and regalia. The museum has been located in Boscastle for over forty years and despite severe damage in recent floods, it remains one of Cornwall's most popular museums.

The fascinating displays cover all aspects of witchcraft and include Divination, Sea Witchcraft, Spells and Charms, Modern Witchcraft, Herbs & Healing, Ritual Magic, Satanism and Hare & Shapeshifting

One exhibit features the burial of Joan Wytte who was born in Bodmin, Cornwall, in 1775 and died of bronchial pneumonia in Bodmin Jail in 1813. She was a renowned clairvoyant and healer but became aggressive and impatient due to an untreated abscess in her tooth and people came to believe she was possessed by the devil. She became known as 'The Fighting Fairy Woman' and was imprisoned for Grievous Bodily Harm.

Her skeleton came into the possession of the Museum of Witchcraft and was exhibited there for many years. When Graham took over 8 years ago he and the museum team believed she deserved a proper burial and Joan was finally laid to rest in 1998.

Among the other artefacts to be seen here are an amazing collection of figures and dolls, carved plates and stones, jewellery, cauldrons, weapons and unpleasant devices used for extracting confessions! A stair lift is available for those with limited mobility.

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