Just returned from a wonderful break in Cornwall, one of my favourite places, this time staying in the former tin mining village of Pendeen (a visit to the defunct mine of Geevor is recommended). I reread the interesting if preposterous The Tregerthen Horror by Paul Newman as I realised our cottage was very close to Zennor which features heavily in that book. See my earlier posts HERE and HERE
Early one evening we visited Zennor to admire the mermaid carving in the church. For the local folklore see HERE. We also dined in the beer garden of The Tinners Arms a lovely old-fashioned pub with very friendly staff and great food.
While I was up at the bar ordering food I asked the young barman if it was true that DH Lawrence had drunk there. He confirmed that he had adding 'and you know Aleister Crowley lived up the hill?' I said I had read something about that and he went on to say that the site was a ruin now and that it was subject to mysterious fires - what's more the house stands on 'a gateway to the underworld.' This was fantastic! Just the kind of folklore I love that accrues round certain notorious sites and not something I'd come across before. The barman even abandoned his post to show us outside how to reach the house. Also a woman sitting at the end of the bar warned us not to go up there after dark and mentioned the numerous fires. Sadly, by the time we tried to approach the dreaded spot, darkness was descending and the path was not clear, although I'm sure we saw it on the horizon. Of course, it's extremely unlikely that Crowley ever stayed there.
On this trip we also paid a visit to the St Buryan's Church in St Buryan, where according to Denys Val Baker, AC performed 'dozens of black masses' (in his book A View from Land's End).
The 3rd edition of Netherwood: Last Resort of Aleister Crowley is at the printers (in Cornwall as it happens) and I'm hoping will be available to buy online in the next week or so. See HERE and HERE
There will also be an official launch at the Tadhg Mae Gallery on Sunday 4 October
