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It seems rather apt that this exhibition was first announced on St Piran’s Day, the traditional date celebrating Cornwall and commemorating one of its patron saints. Folklore is a topic that is not often explored in-depth at museums (though I would highlight the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic in Boscastle), and Cornish Myths and Legends was less of an exhibition than a journey. It is a journey into the past, into intangible cultural heritage, and perhaps most potently of all, a journey into identity. Its displays highlight the myths and legends associated with this magical place, exploring how they came into being, how they shaped the Cornwall we know today, and the resonance they still hold in local collective memory.
In both content and presentation, the exhibition offers something to interest everyone, with expertly chosen artefacts enhancing its written content, and artworks amplifying it. On entering, your eyes are drawn to a beautiful illustrated map of Cornwall pinpointing some of the key places associated with mystical themes, and mythical creatures abound, offering insights into tales of the tides, of mermaids and kelpies, of witches and healers, and the sacred objects and places associated with their stories. A recurrent theme, befitting a peninsula like Cornwall, is the importance of water – both in practical terms, but also its magical and spiritual properties, represented by the early medieval Holy Wells that pepper the Cornish landscape.
Cornish Myths and Legends does exactly what it promises, presenting a plethora of local tales, including stories of the giant Cormoran, the Mermaid of Zennor, and King Arthur. These originally oral histories are conveyed through diverse methods, including Maeve Cushla’s short film OSS (featuring archival footage of Golowan, a Penzance festival started/revived in 1991), and another created by StoryLines in collaboration with the Withy Lore project. Visitors can also discover the medicinal properties of native plants, and learn about the majestic ’Obby ’Oss – a central figure in many Cornish festivals, as well as in this exhibition, which features the original Golowan Oss, as well as another creation by Wildworks. Hands-on elements for younger visitors include a folklore-inspired dressing-up box and a storybook corner – and, if you fancy a pause to absorb your surroundings, you can sit on the throne-like Presidential Chair of the Royal Institution of Cornwall.
Some of the artefacts on display highlight prehistoric cosmography: the importance of ancient burial sites, stone circles, and standing stones in their present, in our past, and in their legacy for the future. Other excavated objects span the centuries, from Bronze Age pottery and Iron Age beads to items associated with medieval and later ships and the sailors who worked on them. They are complemented by artworks and photographs including loans from collections linked to the Federation of Old Cornwall Societies, Penlee House Museum & Art Gallery, Morrab Library, and Falmouth Art Gallery. Another nice touch was the inclusion of images from folklore books in the Museum’s Courtney Library; much of the displays are drawn from its own collections.
Most people will have heard elements of the rich folkloric history that is celebrated in this exhibition, but its displays feature many lesser-known superstitions, too. Cornish Myths and Legends is perfect for contextualising visits to archaeological sites and Scheduled Monuments, of which Cornwall has plenty, and highlighting the diverse range of finds that have been excavated in this region. To further enrich the exhibition, CMAG is hosting an accompanying events programme, which includes something for children and adults, something for artists, something for writers, and, of course, something for archaeologists.
Laura Miucci is a freelance archaeologist, Director of Lore & Piece Educational Workshops, and Secretary of the ClfA Community Archaeology Group.
Further information: Cornish Myths and Legends is at the Cornwall Museum & Art Gallery until 1 November; see https://cornwallmuseum.org/exhibition/cornish-myths-legends for more details.
