What secrets of language, history and legend might Cornwall’s place names unlock?
To find out, we invited 26 writers to visit 26 places, some well-known, some well off the beaten track. Each writer has created a sestude – a poem of exactly 62 words – in response to their place, and a longer exploration in prose.
Photographers then took the writers’ words with them to explore these places and inspire their own work, and the result is a multi-faceted celebration of Cornwall and its richly storied culture. It’s accompanied by an introduction looking at how historical and linguistic change has shaped the names of Cornwall’s villages and towns, by Cornish language expert Kensa Broadhurst.
An exhibition of this work opened at The Poly in Falmouth just before St Piran’s Day in 2023, and a beautifully designed book was launched at the same time.
Use the menu to navigate directly to a place.
And enjoy the journey – hyns diogel!