Poundstock is an ancient village and parish on the north coast of Bude and Boscastle, whose name comes from the Saxon for 'cattle enclosure'. The village is located half a mile west of the A39 and about a mile from the coast. A church has stood on this spot, mentioned in the Domesday Book as Pondestock, for fourteen centuries, and Poundstock's cattle pound has been a feature of the village for nearly as long. Close to the centre of the village is a Medieval Gildhouse which is the only one of its kind in Cornwall. The Gildhouse, a grade one listed building, has been used continuously since it was built.
The history of Poundstock is relatively colourful. In 1282 the rector of Morwenstow seized the parish church of St Winwaloe and installed his own incumbent, instigating a visit from the Archbishop of Canterbury. The Archbishop reinstated his own candidate, only for him to be evicted again immediately after the Archbishop left.
The church is said to be haunted by the ghost of an assistant curate named William Penfound who in 1537 was hacked to death in front of the altar during a time of bitter conflict between pirates and robbers. Another member of the family, Kate Penfound, tried to elope with John Trebarfoot of Trebarfoot Manor only to be stopped by her father, who ended up killing all three of them in a sword fight.
A festival is still observed in Poundstock on Rogation Day (the Monday before Ascension Day), continuing a centuries-old tradition.