Padstow, seaport and market town, and par., Cornwall, on S. side of estuary of river Camel, 5 miles NW. of Wadebridge ry. sta. and 12 miles NW. of Bodmin - par., 3341 ac., pop. 2191; town, pop. 1749; P.O., T.O., 1 Bank. Market-day, Saturday. This is a very ancient place, its former names being Lodenek, Athelstowe, and Petrocstowe. The town furnished ships for the siege of Calais in 1346. It is nominally governed by a portreeve and other officers, under charter of Elizabeth. Padstow has a fine situation in a luxuriant valley. Its coasting trade is considerable. (For shipping statistics, see Appendix.) The chief articles of commerce are coals, corn, and malt; and some shipbuilding is carried on.

(John Bartholomew, Gazetteer of the British Isles (1887))