Whitstone

Whitstone is a parish in north-east Cornwall, located on the border with Devon. The parish sits on the B3254 road, midway between Bude and Launceston. The area is characterized by small hamlets such as Boot, Foxton, and East and West Balsdon, scattered across a landscape of farmland and hedgerows. The eastern boundary is formed by the River Tamar, and the parish has a quiet, rural character. Part of the Bude Canal once passed through the parish. The name is of English origin, meaning white stone, and the area retains a sense of being on a boundary, both geographically and administratively.

History: Whitstone was mentioned in the Domesday Book as Witestan, when it belonged to the Earl of Mortain. The parish church, St Anne's, features architecture dating back to the 12th century, with significant Victorian-era restorations. The tower is the oldest part of the church. The parish was historically agricultural, with the economy based on farming and small-scale trade. A considerable stream flows into the River Tamar, marking the border with North Tamerton, and another stream marks the boundary with Week St Mary. The Bude Canal, built in the early 19th century, passed through the parish, transporting lime and other goods. The parish remained agricultural through the centuries, with a population fluctuating between 350 and 600 during the last 200 years. The Tithe Map of 1839 shows numerous field names reflecting the well-watered nature of the parish, such as Great Marsh, Long Marsh, Wetland Meadow, and Blacklake Marsh. Today, Whitstone remains a small, rural parish with a population of around 580, with agriculture and agricultural services as the main employment. Self-employment is three times the national average.