Zennor

Zennor is a quiet and remote part of Penwith which has been inhabited since prehistoric times. There are many prehistoric remains within walking distance to the village, the most famous being Zennor Quoit.

Zennor Quoit is a good example of a quoit. Unfortunately the capstone has slipped and one of the supporting stones has been broken. Over the years excavations of its chamber have found ancient remains, which include pottery.

At Zennor is Cornwall's oldest private museum, The Wayside Folk Museum. It has two working mining waterwheels, cobbler's shop, a wheelwrights and an archaeological display of this area.

Outside the Museum is the plague stone, marking the boundary past which those in the village were not allowed to pass during the time of the black death.

The indentation in the stone was filled with vinegar. Coins from families that were thought to have the plague, were placed in the vinegar. It was believed that the vinegar killed any plague contamination on the coins. The coins could then be used freely used.

Within Zennor Church is a carving of a mermaid reputed to over 600 years old. It is located on the right side of a church bench. There is a legend relating to this mermaid. A mermaid lured a local to her home in the sea depths. He was never seen again, but his voice is still heard.

It is argued that here lived the last speakers of Cornish. It was generally accepted that Dolly Pentreath from Mousehole was the last speaker, who died in 1777. However the Davey family lived here, the last family member that spoke Cornish, died and was buried in Zennor Church in 1891.

Zennor Church

Mermaid of Zennor

D.H. Lawrence and his German wife moved to Zennor hoping to set up a literary community. It was here that Lawrence wrote Women in Love. Unfortunately they came at the wrong time, during the First World War. The villages at that time were suspicious of strangers. Due to his wife’s nationality, rumours started that they were signaling to German submarines, and they felt compelled to leave.