People in Boscastle reflect on 2004 floods

We've been speaking to residents and visitors in the Cornish village ahead of the 20th anniversary

Author: Megan PricePublished 12th Aug 2024

It's almost 20 years since heavy downpours of rain and severe floods hit Boscastle.

The flooding on 16 August 2004, which cost the village £15 million in damages, "made the village what it is today".

In total, 75 cars, five caravans, six buildings, and several boats were washed into the sea, and around 100 homes and businesses were destroyed.

We've been hearing from people in Boscastle who say the incident "put them on the map" and improved tourism in the years that followed.

Rick and Dot visit Boscastle each year.

Rick said: "I suppose it's what put them on the map, who'd heard of Boscastle before that. Most people had never heard of Boscastle until that happened and then since that happened, you don't forget it."

"Put on the map"

Sue Webster, owner of Harbour Light, a family owned business which was washed away by the flooding and had to be rebuilt, said:

"There's a lot of people who don't want to talk about it, partly because we get asked about it so often. If people are interested we still have to talk about it for the visitors who want to come down and it's promoting our village at the end of the day."

Sue Webster, Harbour Light

"The history of Boscastle"

Sue added: "It would be really nice if we had a permanent place, memorial or visitor centre which we don't have, partly for the flood but more importantly for the history of Boscastle because we do get asked about it.

"As much as we think we've heard these questions before it means people are still interested."

On the day of the flood, around 75mm of rain fell in two hours, which is the same amount that normally falls in the whole of August.

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