Image: Pendour Cove from Trewey Cliff - geograph.org.uk - 230720

Description: Pendour Cove from Trewey Cliff. Looking down into Pendour Cove from the steps on the coastal footpath that climb Trewey Cliff above the footbridge (bottom left) over the stream from Zennor. This cove features in the local legend about the Mermaid of Zennor. The following version is taken from the Cornwall in Focus website http://www.cornwallinfocus.co.uk/ ... "A local legend tells us of the story of one Mathew Trewella and his love for a mermaid. Mathew was a fine young man with a voice to match his good looks. Every evening Mathew would sing the closing hymn at Zennor church alone - this was to be his undoing. A mermaid, half-woman half fish, was entranced by the wonderful music from the village above her home at Pendour Cove. She listened to Mathew's voice with increasing interest until one day should could stand it no longer. She had to see who was making this beautiful music. The mermaid dressed herself in a long dress, taking care to conceal her long tail and walked awkwardly up to the church. At first she just marvelled at the singing before slipping away to return beneath the waves before the ebb-tide. After a few more visits, she became bolder and waited longer. It was on this visit that her gaze met with Mathew's and the pair fell madly in love. The call of the sea was too strong however and the mermaid knew that she must return to her home or face certain death. She turned to leave but Mathew called after her 'Please do not leave, who are you, where are you from?'. The mermaid explained that she was a creature from the sea and that she must return now. Already deeply in love with her, Mathew told her that wherever she went he would follow. Carrying her, Mathew ran down to the cove and followed her beneath the waves. Neither were seen again. It is said however that if you sit above the cove at twilight on a fine summer's evening you might just catch Mathew singing faintly on the breeze."
Title: Pendour Cove from Trewey Cliff - geograph.org.uk - 230720
Credit: From geograph.org.uk
Author: Jim Champion
Usage Terms: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0
License: CC BY-SA 2.0
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