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Padstow harbour and quayside Padstow is a popular tourist destination on the north Cornish coast, approximately 14 miles east of Newquay, at the mouth of the River Camel. Some of its former fishing fleet remains. The village has been nicknamed by some as Padstein on account of the almost ubiquitous presence of the celebrity television chef Rick Stein who has a number of restaurants and hotels in the village, the most famous of which is the Seafood Restaurant on the quayside.
Originally named Petroc-stow, after the Welsh missionary St. Petroc, who landed at near by Trebetherick AD 500.
Best Known for the "Obby Oss" festival whose origins are lost in antiquity.
The festival starts at midnight on May Eve, when towns people sing the morning song. In the morning, the town is dressed with greenery and flowers are placed around the maypole. The climax arrives when male dancers cavort through the town dressed in a black frame-hung cape and gruesome mask lead by the "Teasers". He then tries to catch young maidens under his cape. Finally at midnight on May Day the crowd sings its death until its resurrection the following May Eve.
External link
- [1] (http://www.dmeagor.freeserve.co.uk/padstow.htm)
- Padstow Web Directory (http://www.plymouthcity.com/Directory/Cornwall/Padstow/index.html)
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