Zennor

One of my favourite Cornish legends is that of the Merrymaid of Zennor. Found between St Ives and St Just, Zennor is a magical place which lies high above the sea with fabulous views from Zennor Head, looking out to the Atlantic.

The village huddles around the Norman church of St Senara. Believed to be named after Princess Azenor of Breton, little is known about this saint. It was restored in 1890, by which time all but one of the original carved oak seats had disappeared and been replaced by family boxes. Two medieval bench-ends remain and have been made into a seat. One end is the famous carving of the Merrymaid of Zennor, who holds a comb and a mirror in her hands. Legend claims that many, many years ago, a richly dressed and beautiful lady occasionally attended the church at Zennor. Nobody knew who she was or where she came from, but her beauty and lovely singing voice drew attention to her. It is said that she enticed Matthew Trewhella, the handsome son of a churchwarden, into the sea. He was never seen again. This story is retold in many collections of Cornish legends, but my favourite version is that told by Charles Causley, illustrated by Michael Foreman.

Trewhella is a very old Zennor family name and it is thought that the Mermaid Chair, created about 400 years ago, was carved in his memory. The story of the Mermaid of Zennor is also included in ‘Cornish Tales’, reviewed here. A collection of stories called ‘The White Horse of Zennor’ by Michael Morpurgo also draws on the mysterious and magical atmosphere of this place of myth and legend.

The Merrymaid of Zennor

Charles Causley, illustrated by Michael Foreman

Orchard Books ISBN: 978-1408319543