Zennor Village Hall
Zennor Village Hall used to be the old schoolhouse and belonged to the Church until it was bought for the community in 1950. It was refurbished in 2000 with a Millenium Lottery Award. Today the Village Hall is used for many different community activities such as the Zennor Pantomime, Arts and Crafts Fair, Feast Week, barn dances, film nights, children’s parties, and more! The Church Council, the Parish Council and the Zennor WI all hold regular meetings in the hall.
The Village Hall Management Committee run the community space, with a representative from every village organisation on board. They are always looking for new activities and ideas.
The village hall is available for all kinds of functions, for details and charges please speak to Alex Thompson on 01736 794183 or email zvhtreasurer@gmail.com
St Serena
Welcome to the parish church of Zennor: St Senara in the Anglican Diocese of Truro, Cornwall. Zennor Church nestles among green fields on the north Cornish coast and the tower stands tall in a beautiful rugged landscape.The circular graveyard is an Iron Age site overlying the Stone and Bronze Age boundaries of this ancient land. Christianity came to Zennor when the Age of Saints followed the fall of the Roman Empire. Originally dedicated to St. Senara, Zennor is one of the few places to begin with a Z. The Cornish language hardened in the 16th century and the S changed to Z. The first window in the chancel shows her holding the church.
The Saxons and Normans built churches, so the foundation of Zennor could be a thousand years old. In Medieval times Zennor church was constantly improved and enlarged. Now people come from all over the world to see the famous carving from those times of a mermaid on a pew end. For centuries the inhabitants of this windswept parish have brought their children to Zennor church to be baptised and their dead to be buried. They have celebrated marriages and sought comfort in times of stress. At harvest and Christmas this historic building fills to bursting with the sound of traditional hymns and carols.
In the tower are tombstones with interesting inscriptions. One is for the ‘Hen-pecked husband’ with a beautiful engraving for the ‘four winds which daily toss this bubble’. Another is to John Quick who died in 1784 and ‘excell’d his equals’. On the wall outside, to the west of the porch, is a memorial to John Davy who died in 1891. He was the last person to speak Cornish as his native tongue.
The fortunes of the parish have varied over the centuries and in 1841 the population of Zennor had increased to 1025. Today the inhabitants have dwindled to a bare 200 and they struggle to maintain this venerable building. Why not join them and give thanks for the many thousands of people who have cared for this church so that it is still here for us to enjoy.
Upcoming Church Services are listed in the quarterly ‘Mermaid’ magazine.
The church is available to hire as a venue for appropriate events. This helps support the church to continue in the Parish. Please contact: gilly@yewtreegallery.com 01736 786425 for Church venue hire.
The Zennor Church Parish is currently in an Interregnum period, a shier long standing incumbent has left.
The Mermaids Echo
The Mermaid’s Echo is Zennor’s quarterly magazine established 10 years ago. It is full of wonderful articles, stories, poetry, drawings and features written in the main by local people, on a variety of topics ranging from the parochial to the global. It contains news and happenings from local organisations such as St. Senara’s Church, the Women’s Institute and the Zennor Gig Club, and has articles on local history, environment, and fascinating interviews with ‘Old Codgers’- Zennor elder residents and ex-residents.
The Mermaid’s Echo welcomes contributions from residents, visitors and friends! It is distributed free of charge to every house in Zennor, and is available to others by subscription for only £5 per year for four copies. (UK postal areas: overseas rates negotiable). Send for a sample copy for just £1.25. Please make cheques payable to ‘Mermaids Echo’.
Contact:
Mary Clifford
Chykembro Cottage, Zennor
St. Ives, TR26 3DB
Email: chykembro@macunlimited.net
Zennor Gig Club
Info to follow
Walking in Zennor
Zennor Parish is a walker’s paradise. Whether your interest is archaeology, wildlife, mining history, rock climbing, or simply enjoying the spectacular scenery and dramatic coastline, walking in Zennor has it all.
Food In Zennor
Tinners Arms
The Tinners Arms is the only pub in Zennor Churchtown and was built in 1271 to accommodate the masons who constructed St. Senara’s Church next door. With its open log fires, stone floors and low ceilings it has changed little over the years and now offers a traditional pub experience with real Cornish ales and carefully prepared food using the best of local ingredients.
The Tinners is a refuge from the modern pace of life. This is a place for those wishing to relax in front of the fire with a quiet pint of real ale and some Cornish cheese or a locally reared steak. In warm weather you might prefer some locally caught fish which can be enjoyed on the sunny terrace which overlooks the Atlantic Ocean. A great place to watch the sun go down.
The Tinners is situated about 4 miles from St Ives just off the B3306, is a short walk from the South West Coast Path and a two hour walk from St Ives along the slightly inland “Coffin Way” or Church Path.
Children Welcome.
Dogs on a lead welcome.
(01736)796927
tinners@tinnersarms.co.uk
Accommodation
Next to the Tinners is ‘The White House’, a Grade II listed building, which used to be known as Bos Cres, Cornish for “house in the middle”.
Built in 1838, the White House was extensively restored and modernised by the present owners in 2005 to provide two double en-suite rooms and two single rooms which share a bathroom. Free WIFI is available in all rooms.
The White House
(01736)796927
sleep@tinnersarms.co.uk
Zennor
St Ives
Cornwall
TR26 3BY
Gurnards Head
The Gurnard’s Head is a dining pub with rooms on Cornwall’s Atlantic coast between St. Ives and St. Just, near the Minack Theatre, Zennor, Penzance and Newlyn and aims to return you momentarily to the slower pace of life that so many yearn for.
Eat simple, earthy and delicious food. Drink beers, wine and sherries all chosen with love
The short, fresh and seasonal menu changes every day according to what is brought to the back door or what the chefs feel is at its seasonal best.
Open every day, except 24 and 25 December.
The Gurnard’s Head,
Near Zennor,
St. Ives, TR26 3DE
Tel: 01736 796 928
enquiries@gurnardshead.co.uk