The Museum of Witchcraft is located in a small harbour town called Boscastle in Cornwall. It is a place famous for flooding in 2004. The museum stresses that it is a museum of witchcraft not Wicca. It does however have an interesting history connecting to Wicca and Gerald Gardner. The museum attracts both Christian and Pagan visitors.

The Museum of Witchcraft is a very popular museum found in the quaint harbour of Boscastle. Everyone no matter what religion or age they are can find this museum interesting. Although there are some exhibits that are controversial so do use your discretion if taking children or people who may be sensitive.

It claims to house the world's largest collection of Witchcraft related artefacts and it certainly has amassed a variety of objects. The Museum was founded by Cecil Williamson who became interested in witchcraft after meeting a witch near his uncle's house in Devon. His uncle was actually the vicar in the area at the time. During his life he came into contact with many different witches in both England and Africa. He worked gathering information on the occult for MI6. He was friends with Gerald Gardner who helped with the museum in the early days although their friendship ended on bad terms. He ran the museum until 1996 when he sold it to the present owners. He died soon after.

The museum shows how the image of the witch has been used throughout the years. From advertising to toys. It also displays photos of real witches throughout history to demonstrate not all witches wear black pointy hats. It shows how witches have been depicted in storybooks and the press, often negatively.

Scrying mirrors and crystal balls are also on display for you look into and see if you can see into the spirit world. There are also tarot cards and other divination tools. There also is a herb section and a section on how the local wise woman will have collected the things she needed from her own garden or the hedgerows nearby. There is a display showing how witchcraft is used for protection of houses, objects and people both in the past and in the present day. How mandrake has a rich history of folklore associated with it.

They also show the darker aspects of witchcraft such as cursing. As the witchcraft trials recorded many cases there is a lot of evidence available. Although many modern pagans believe in the theory harm none some of the curses on display were intended to hurt those that deserved it. Sadly the trials did not record the witches' good deeds. Witches killed during the witchcraft trials are remembered. Torture devices that were used on suspects are on display. Many confessions were extracted by using these methods. The prosecution on witches throughout the ages is well documented.

The Richel Collection was donated to the museum. The collection is of ritual and sex magic. The collection was largely put together by Mr Eldermans, he had been a Magister of the Argenteum Astrum (Silver Star), an occult group founded by Aleister Crowley in 1909.

There are displays by other magical groups including the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. There is a recording of Aleister Crowley voice chanting and a painted altar slab made by Alex Sanders. Various pagan gods and goddesses are shown including the horned god who was transformed into the Christian devil figure. Shapeshifting is also featured, many witches believing they can transform themselves into hares. There is also a collection of charms and spells that intended to do good.

Whatever your religion this is an interesting place to visit. Many people visit time and time again.