Mermaid of Zennor statue unveiled as Great Western Railway invites families to explore the landscapes behind region’s myths and legends

A statue of the Mermaid of Zennor was unveiled at St Ives station today as Great Western Railway invites families to discover the landscapes behind the myths and legends across our region.

The legend of the mermaid – which tells the story of a local man enchanted by the mythical sea creature – is retold in GWR’s new collection of myths and legends, The Line to Legend Land. 

The installation of the statue at St Ives comes during English Tourism Week (March 13-22), as GWR encourages families to set off on their own adventures to discover the spirit of stories cherished for generations.

Updated from the first version published more than a century ago, The Line to Legend Land features 11 legends from across the South West and Wales.

It includes an introduction and brand-new legend from former Children’s Laureate and War Horse author, Sir Michael Morpurgo, and is designed to introduce the stories to a new generation.

Helping to show off the new statue was Jeni Woolcock, collections manager at the Cornwall Museum and Art Gallery, which launches its own myths and legends exhibition at the end of this month.

Jeni said: 

“Cornwall's legends, including the Mermaid of Zennor, are linked inseparably with the landscape we know and love. Such fireside stories have been passed down through the generations and form part of Cornwall’s strong regional identity – we explore all of this in the brand-new exhibition, Cornish Myths & Legends, which opens on 31^st March.

“The resurgence of interest in folk traditions reflects the joy of reconnecting with nature and the seasons, of going on adventurous quests, and of feeding your curiosity and sense of wonder. So, grab your copy of The Line to Legend Land, jump on a train to Truro, and come and see the exhibition for yourself! We’re running a free family trail during the Easter holidays too for truly legendary days out.”

GWR Head of External Communications, Dan Panes, said:

“The Mermaid of Zennor is just one of so many captivating stories across the region we serve, and by taking these statues out to some of our most popular destinations, we’re aiming to inspire families to venture out on the train and discover the legends for themselves.

“We’ve been thrilled by the reaction to our new Line to Legend Land book and our goal was to create a truly immersive world where these myths step out of the stories and onto our stations, bringing the legends to life for everyone who travels with us.”

The Line to Legend Land campaign supports Farms for City Children – founded by Sir Michael and Lady Clare Morpurgo – which is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Over that time, it has provided children and young people with life-changing opportunities to live, learn and thrive on working farms in Devon, Gloucestershire and Pembrokeshire and experience the very countryside where many of the myths and legends were born.

GWR has also donated copies of The Line to Legend Land to 500 primary schools across its network, ensure the stories that surround the lands they live in are kept alive for years to come.  

As well as the Mermaid of Zennor at St Ives, other statues installed at stations include Excalibur at Castle Cary, and the Giants of Avon Gorge at Bristol Temple Meads, with The Faeries of Pennard Castle at Swansea and the Red Dragon at Cardiff Central to be installed tomorrow.

How to get hold of the book

The ‘Line To Legend Land’ book is available to buy from gwrsouvenirs.co.uk or as a free PDF download from GWR.com/legends.