Minster

"MINSTER, a parish in the hundred of Lesnewth, county Cornwall, 4 miles N. of Camelford, its post town, and 3½ E. by N. of Bossiney. It is situated near the Bristol Channel, and was formerly called Talcarne. At Slaughter Bridge, in this parish, the memorable battle is supposed to have been fought in 525, between the Britons and Saxons, in which king Arthur received his mortal wound; and near the sources of the river Camel another battle was fought in 820 between the Britons and the Saxons under Egbert. The parish contains the small seaport town of Boscastle, and was distinguished for an ancient castle, once the seat of William de Botreaux, who founded here a Black priory cell to Tywardraeth. The soil consists of a dark loam upon a subsoil of rock. The surface is generally flat, and the greater part of the land is in pasture. The tithes have been commuted for a rent-charge of £255. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Exeter, value £224. The church, which is of great antiquity, has only part of the tower remaining. It contains an old circular font, and monuments of the Renders and Cottons of Boscastle and Worthyvale. The E. window bears the Trelawny arms. The register dates from 1600, the older entries having been destroyed. There are almshouses for six poor persons. There is a National school for both sexes, in which a Sunday-school is held. The Methodists have a place of worship. There are some remains of an ancient chapel, dedicated to St. John, and on Waterpit Downs is an ancient cross, embellished with sculpture and delicate tracery. In the grounds of Worthyvale is a stone, bearing some rudely-sculptured characters, supposed to commemorate the battle of Slaughter Bridge, from which place it was brought. Two annual fairs are held in August and November for lambs, sheep, and cattle. Thomas Ricard Avery, Esq., is lord of the manor."