The Mermaid of Zennor

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For centuries, a church dedicated to St. Senara has stood in the village of Zennor in Cornwall. The stone structure was built between the 13th and 15th centuries, and includes a tower and a small graveyard. Inside, visitors can find one of the most intriguing features: a bench-end with carvings of fish on the seat and a woman admiring herself in a mirror; this is the “Mermaid Chair.” Long ago, a beautiful and richly dressed woman occasionally attended services at St. Senara's Church in Zennor, and sometimes at Morvah. The parishioners were enchanted by her beauty and her voice, for her singing was sweeter than all the rest. She appeared infrequently for scores of years, but never seemed to age, and nobody knew whence she came, although they watched her from the summit of Tregarthen Hill. After many years, the mysterious woman became interested in a young man named Mathey Trewella, [i] "the best singer in the parish." One day he followed her home, and disappeared; neither was ever seen again in Zennor Church.

Of course, we like to see the romantic side of the story, and love visiting St Senara’s ancient chair while keeping a weather eye on the horizon for a mermaid story of our own – it’s even said that fishermen can still hear the two lovebirds singing, warning them of approaching storms. A big thank-you to my new patrons: Magdalena and Silvia Mazzeo. Thank you so much. Your support really means a lot to me. This hauntingly beautiful poem is just over 100 lines long, and the simple alternating rhyme pattern has the effect of imitating the movement of waves breaking gently onto sand. A particularly interesting aspect of the poem is that it is structured as a dialogue between Matthew Trewhella and the mermaid herself, whereas in most incarnations of the tale, whether prose, poetry, or song, the narrative is from the perspective of either one character (usually Matthew) or, more commonly, an outside narrator. Watkins’ poem has a much sadder and darker tone than Causley’s cheerfully magical book, reflecting how the same story can have a hundred different meanings depending on the telling. The legend is linked to St. Senara in Sue Monk Kidd's The Mermaid Chair, [12] which was adapted into a movie in 2006. [13] When visiting Zennor and the famous church, we definitely recommend heading out onto the coast path. Not only will you get the best views for mermaid-spotting, but you can walk along the incredible South West Coast Path to St Ives, which is one of the most beautiful walks in St Ives and perhaps even Cornwall. Before setting off, why not pop into the historic pub The Tinners Arms for a cheeky pint or, for a treat you can enjoy while you walk, the Moomaid of Zennor ice cream parlour provides the perfect accompaniment to your mystical stroll.A variety of fish-tailed gods were worshipped by the first civilisations of the Middle East. The earliest known of these was Oannes, Lord of the Waters, who appeared some 7000 years ago. There are also fish-tailed gods in one form or another found in the legends and beliefs of countries as diverse as India, China, Japan and Greece. The Mermaid of Zennor", is a poem by John Heath-Stubbs, who lived in Zennor for a while in the 1950s. BOSAVERN FARM SHOP - a not-for-profit Social Enterprise run on Wholesome Food Association principles by a community of employees, members and volunteers. Great for organic fresh vegetables and eggs. From Zennor, you can walk to the following mines, Carn Galver Mine, Ding Dong Mine, Bosiliac Mine, and Geevor Tin Mine, which is a tourist attraction in its own right.

Zennor is known for his medieval creation of a mermaid in St. Senara parish church. In addition to its traditional Cornish inhabitants, Zennor is one of the few places in the country where people still speak the language. Matthew Trewella, according to the Mermaid Legend, was a young man who possessed an astonishing singing voice, and an enchanting mermaid heard his voice. The Wayside Museum in Zennor is a Tardis of local history located in the heart of town. In addition to the historic mill, the museum contains over 5,000 artifacts. From 5000 years ago to the 1950s, objects from Zenor’s history can be found. During an outbreak of disease, a Plague Stone is stationed outside the museum. To wash it down, you are also spoilt for choice. There is local ale, single malt, hand-crafted Cornish gin, craft lagers, and also Tinners Ale and Mermaid ales. If cider is more your thing, try Polygon cider, Screech or Cornish Scrumpy.Helford is frequently mentioned as the best place to live in Cornwall. It is an extremely popular tourist destination because it is home to royalty and artisans. It is one of the most remote locations in the Duchy. Pete Townshend, lead guitarist for The Who, has been a resident of this area since the late Roger Taylor. It’s a good idea to stop by Helford on a typical visit and catch a glimpse of kingfishers and yachts cruising along the Helford River. After a Queen show, you may be able to take a break in the Shipwrights Arms next to Taylor for a beer. Despite its small population, the village has a strong sense of community, anchored by the pub. The captain tried to explain that Mathew looked quite happy with his life, but the people wouldn’t listen. Rita Tregellas Pope, Cornwall & the Isles of Scilly (Landmark Visitors Guide, Hunter Publishing, 2006), p. 127. Sophia Kingshill, Jennifer Westwood, The Fabled Coast: Legends & traditions from around the shores of Britain & Ireland (Random House, 2012) In fact, the tale was first recorded by William Bottrell in 1873. Adding weight to modern folklorist Jennifer Westwood’s theory that the carving inspired the legend not the other way around.

Even today, the village of Zennor itself seems exactly the sort of place where one would expect to encounter a mermaid. The dark cloisters of the church where the mermaid chair sits have an underwater feel to them, and even the local pub sells a ‘Zennor Mermaid’ ale (which, by the way, is delicious). Traces of the legend appear to have permeated many aspects of modern life in the area; there is even a local ice cream company named ‘Moomaid of Zennor’. However, it is at the edge of the cliffs over Pendour Cove, looking out to sea, where the words of Watkins’ poem or Wootton’s melodies are truly brought to life, and the sparkles on the waves could easily be mistaken for a mermaid’s tail. While visiting Lamorna Cove (you can walk there via a stunning coastal path from Mousehole), keep an eye out for the other magical being that’s rumoured to live here. As the Cornish legend goes, a prince was cursed by a witch, turning him into a dark brown conger eel, or Sea Bucca, with knotted seaweed for hair. While he helped fishermen by herding fish into their waiting nets, the locals often left the Bucca alone as, just like the mermaids, he was known to have a terrible temper and penchant for revenge. For as long as man has gone to sea, there have been tales of mermaids. Supposedly the result of ocean-weary sailors mistaking aquatic mammals such as manatees for the figure of a woman, the well-known image of a creature with the head and torso of a female but the tail of a fish from the waist downwards has become a popular feature in folklore. Each culture has their own variation on this legend, from the ‘Sirens’ of Ancient Greece, the ‘Melusine’ of Normandy, to the ‘Mami Wata’ spirits of West, Central, and Southern Africa. Despite the geographical and historical distance, they all share certain characteristics, namely their beautiful appearance which often leads to romances with humans. While each incarnation of the mermaid legend agrees on being female from the waist upwards, the most notable difference between depictions of mermaids across cultures is the form of their legs. The most recognisable is the classic fish tail, but in many areas, such as Western Europe and Africa, mermaids are imagined with the tail of a serpent. Elsewhere, mermaids are often pictured as almost identical to human women in shape, but with some subtle differences, such as pale skin and long green hair in Eastern Europe, or webbed hands and feet in China. One Chinese folklorist describes a mermaid captured on Namtao Island as ‘Her features and limbs were in all respects human, except that her body was covered with fine hair of many beautiful colours’. [3] In the choir were some fine singers, but none finer than Mathy Trewhella, a handsome young man who sang a clear high tenor: his voice could be heard all over Zennor Churchtown when he wished. As the choristers sang their hymns and psalms Mathy became aware of the stranger staring at him with those emerald-green mysterious eyes; when he looked at her it seemed to him that a queer faint smile hovered on her face. After the service she was the first to leave the church, and those who went out after her thought it strange how rapidly she had disappeared, as they could not see her anywhere outside.

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Kidd, Sue Monk (3 February 2011). The Mermaid Chair. Headline. p.33. ISBN 978-0-7553-8518-8 . Retrieved 13 April 2012. One day, the mysterious woman noticed Mathew. After church ended, she smiled at him, and looked at the door. He followed her, and this time she walked slowly, so that he did not lose her. However, he could still not work up the courage to walk beside her. Now, there are a few variations of this stormy tale, but they all share one fact: a mermaid wronged is a formidable thing. The most recognised story tells of a man, who when out hunting for seals, came across a mermaid combing her salty hair on the beach. He immediately fell in love and asked the gentle beauty to be his wife. When she declined, the young man shot her in a moment of fury. It was only then that he realised she was a mermaid, and that had been the reason behind her refusal. He tried to save her but was too late and, in the poor mermaid’s dying moments, she cursed the harbour. It was this final act that turned a once busy port into a treacherous place that all but the smallest boats could visit. I have to admit to always having a deep fascination with the Mermaid of Zennor – I’m not calling it a myth, as it could be true … couldn’t it? In Bottrell’s An Vorvoren a Senar (that’s The Mermaid of Zennor in Cornish if you hadn’t already translated / worked it out) a choir boy and local squire’s son called Matthew Trewhella would sing in St Senara’s church every Sunday.