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February 6, 2025
Sublime Rambling
English Epistle #7
By Vicki L. George
The Bandera Prophet
English Epistle #7
Jan. 24, 1998
We chose Boscastle for a base because the town is so ancient. Many of the buildings go back to the 13th century. And because we wanted to see the ruins of Tintagel Castle nearby. Legend has it that Tintagel is the birthplace of King Arthur. It’s set on a point of land over the sea divided by a narrow, sea-buffeted neck of land. It was in use until 1483, when it was abandoned. The whole point is gradually collapsing into the sea including the ruins, and the sea has washed numerous caves under the cliffs. One of these caves is called Merlin’s Cave, where legend says Merlin the Magician lived. At low tide, you can enter the caves but you sure wouldn’t want to be caught there when the tide comes in.
Boscastle itself is a harbour town and the harbour was originally built in 1547, rebuilt in 1584 and restored in 1740 and remains unchanged from that time.
The oldest buildings have the most fascinating architecture: leaning chimneys, crooked walls, wavy roofs and windows set off plumb. The roofs are most interesting as some are so wavy it amazes me that these buildings are still in use. But I learned the why of it. It seems the builders put the huge roof ridge beams up green and immediately put the inch-thick slate shingles on. So the beams dried in place with incredible weight on them, causing them to sag in the middle.
The other major place of interest in Boscastle was the Forrabury Church. It was known to have been there in 1189 and is probably of Norman origin. The tower and south side of the building are original. The porch was built in 1520 and is original. The rest was rebuilt in 1760 with some renovation done in the 1800s. In the cemetery surrounding the church the oldest tombstone still readable was dated 1644 and the graveyard is still in use. The altar, pulpit and credence table are still there as they were in 1189.
I copy epitaphs which I find interesting. I got two from that graveyard which were quite moving.
The first epitaph read:
Johan wife of John Tubb was buried ye 27 of December 1644 John their sonne was buried the 17th day of May 1647.
This bee with whom I travelled in my wombe,
Takes up his lodgings with me in my tombe.
A deare & welcombe guest to whom I gave
My living house, Should I denie my grave.
Dust rest with dust till that your soules divine
You reassume and both in glory shine.
The second epitaph read:
Here Lyeth the body of Katherine Guard the daughter of Walter Guard & Elizabeth his wife who was buried the 7th Day of June in the Year of Our Lord 1675.
Under this tombe a Feamale Guard doth lye
was only born to have that name & dye.
Shee from the Wombe unto the grave was sent
In a few daies yet this no punishment
But happiness, that shee a race has run
to Ease; which some have scarse begun
And bee at once a rising and a sietting sun…
(Talk about a tear-jerker. I also like movies which require at least a king-size box of tissues, too.)
We stayed the next night in Boscastle, too, at the St. Christopher’s B&B. They, too, have boiler heat and cut it off in the middle of the night. However, theirs was working the next morning, not being computer driven.
But we were ready to move on and checked out of there and headed for Okehampton and the moors!
Boscastle itself is a harbour town and the harbour was originally built in 1547, rebuilt in 1584 and restored in 1740 and remains unchanged from that time.
The oldest buildings have the most fascinating architecture: leaning chimneys, crooked walls, wavy roofs and windows set off plumb. The roofs are most interesting as some are so wavy it amazes me that these buildings are still in use. But I learned the why of it. It seems the builders put the huge roof ridge beams up green and immediately put the inch-thick slate shingles on. So the beams dried in place with incredible weight on them, causing them to sag in the middle.
The other major place of interest in Boscastle was the Forrabury Church. It was known to have been there in 1189 and is probably of Norman origin. The tower and south side of the building are original. The porch was built in 1520 and is original. The rest was rebuilt in 1760 with some renovation done in the 1800s. In the cemetery surrounding the church the oldest tombstone still readable was dated 1644 and the graveyard is still in use. The altar, pulpit and credence table are still there as they were in 1189.
I copy epitaphs which I find interesting. I got two from that graveyard which were quite moving.
The first epitaph read:
Johan wife of John Tubb was buried ye 27 of December 1644 John their sonne was buried the 17th day of May 1647.
This bee with whom I travelled in my wombe,
Takes up his lodgings with me in my tombe.
A deare & welcombe guest to whom I gave
My living house, Should I denie my grave.
Dust rest with dust till that your soules divine
You reassume and both in glory shine.
The second epitaph read:
Here Lyeth the body of Katherine Guard the daughter of Walter Guard & Elizabeth his wife who was buried the 7th Day of June in the Year of Our Lord 1675.
Under this tombe a Feamale Guard doth lye
was only born to have that name & dye.
Shee from the Wombe unto the grave was sent
In a few daies yet this no punishment
But happiness, that shee a race has run
to Ease; which some have scarse begun
And bee at once a rising and a sietting sun…
(Talk about a tear-jerker. I also like movies which require at least a king-size box of tissues, too.)
We stayed the next night in Boscastle, too, at the St. Christopher’s B&B. They, too, have boiler heat and cut it off in the middle of the night. However, theirs was working the next morning, not being computer driven.
But we were ready to move on and checked out of there and headed for Okehampton and the moors!