Cornish Folk Tales of Place Mid and West Cornwall
Step onto the shores of Cornwall’s enchanted land and delve deep into a seam of windswept stories. High up on the cliffs lurk lovesick giants, playful piskies and hungry dragons. Below on the sands, beware hissing spriggans, merrymaids and restless ghosts. In the granite villages meet dashing devils and wise women. Along the mines, moors and seascapes swirling with folklore, inhale the true spirit of Cornwall.
I journeyed through West and Mid Cornwall visiting the places where the folk tales are set and writing about them out in the open. I have retold the folktales alongside my journey.
Buy signed copies direct, please email or PayPal annachorlton@yahoo.co.uk £12.99 plus £3.50 postage.
Cornish Folk Tales of Place North and East Cornwall
Cornwall’s rugged coast is etched with stories. Here you’ll find tales of powerful mermaids, spiteful witches, crafty smugglers and woeful ghosts. Up on the moors are mischievous creatures, huge giants and elusive beasts. Let the piskeys lead you astray across the windy tors and sandy shorelines to experiences wonder, miracles, secrets and magic.
Cornish Folk Tales of Place takes the reader on a journey through East Cornwall, each tale is prefaced with a description of place. It is illustrated by Cornish school pupils, artists and the local community in the Monochrome Mazed community illustration project.
Signed copies available annachorlton@yahoo.co.uk £12.99 plus £1.50 postage
Reviews:
Reviews of Cornish Folk Tales of Place Mid and West Cornwall
TheMythstery Instagram 15th June 2025
‘Today I’m reviewing Cornish Folk Tales of Place by Anna Chorlton. Thank you to the History Press Folklore for sending me this book! This collection focuses on stories from mid and western Cornwall, and is offered as a companion to Chorlton’s first volume, which covers the northern and eastern regions. The book is full of charm—with beautiful chapter ornaments, and illustrations which are wonderfully eclectic. Within its pages, you’ll find whimsical art by local schoolchildren and regional artists, and even botanical prints scattered throughout. The stories are organized by place and theme. Each tale opens with a description of the physical location, written by the author in situ. This gives the tales a grounded, lived-in feel—and made me want to book a trip to Cornwall immediately. Chorlton’s background in poetry shines through. The prose is vivid and immersive—at times, you can practically hear the seagulls and taste the sea salt in the air. These stories may be fictional, but their roots run deep into the land. It’s storytelling with soil under its nails. This book feels like a celebration of the Cornish community. It’s more than just a collection—it’s a collaborative project. Cornish Folk Tales of Place is a thoughtful, evocative work that’s perfect for anyone drawn to the misty edges of myth, mystery and place.’
Review Paul Taylor-MacCartney 'Anna Chorlton’s wonderful 'Cornish Folk Tales of Place: Traditional Stories from Mid and West Cornwall' (The History Press), whisks you straight into a fantastical world of folklore and legend, where every tor, cove and moorland mist hides a story waiting to surprise you. Drawing on archival records, local oral testimonies and rigorous scholarly research, she breathes fresh life into a multitude of place-specific tales – featuring mermaids haunting rocky shores, crafty smugglers eluding coastguard patrols and ancient giants frozen among the Bodmin tors – while preserving the raw rhythms and charm of Cornwall’s oral heritage. Each entry is bolstered by concise “Notes on Place” that illuminate historical context and archaeological insights, with many of them accompanied by evocative ink-and-watercolour illustrations that capture the region’s windswept landscapes and fairy-haunted moors. As a companion volume to her 'Cornish Folk Tales of Place: Traditional Stories from North and East Cornwall' (2019), this gem of a compendium builds on the author’s previous exploration of Cornwall’s folkloric map, making it equally valuable as a traveller’s companion, a classroom supplement or a cozy read for enthusiasts of all things Cornwall. Whether you’re researching local legends, planning a pilgrimage to Land’s End, or simply seeking tales of mystery and wonder, this enthralling collection offers a richly textured guide to Cornwall’s timeless magic … and might just tempt you to trace its stories along the rugged coastline yourself. Highly recommended.' 24th June 2025 Facebook
Review July 1st 2025, Superstition Sam
'But to me, what stands out the most across both volumes of Cornish Folk Tales of Place - North and East Cornwall, and now Mid and West Cornwall - is Chorlton's ability to blend local history and landscape with her pwn voice and imagination, thus honouring the multiple layers and textures of humanity's live experience, through a conscious storytelling act that connects audiences across generations. Likewise by grounding each tale in places where they're set, and by walking those paths herself, Chorlton invites readers to reflect not only on those who came before us, but on those who might come after us as well.'
Reviews of Cornish Folk Tales of Place North and East Cornwall
'It is a wonderful resource, a book to dip into again and again. The collection makes me want to walk the places of Cornwall again, particularly Bodmin Moor, and to meet some of the characters from the stories.' Neil Ruckman, Facts and Fiction No.111 November 2019
‘It is lovely, I couldn’t put it down, and I know what to do if there are piskeys around!’ Dee Towers, July 2019
‘Filled with beautiful artwork from local artists and the chance to delve deeper into some of Cornwall’s legendary stories, this book is already becoming a firm favourite with booksellers across the county.’ Emily Charlotte, Lost in Books Blog, October 2019.