Zennor Head/ˈzɛnʊərhɛd/; (Cornish: Penn Senar) is a 750-metre (2,460 ft) long promontory on the Cornish coast of England, between Pendour Cove and Porthzennor Cove. Facing the Atlantic Ocean, it lies 1 kilometre north-west of the village of Zennor and 1.6 kilometres east of the next promontory, Gurnard's Head. The granite (Killas) cliffs rise over 200 feet (60 m) from the sea and the highest point of the headland is 314 feet (96 m) above sea level, with an Ordnance Surveytriangulation station. Zennor Head is on the South West Coast Path, which follows the cliff edge closely, skirting the entire perimeter of the headland. The promontory is part of the PenwithHeritage Coast, and is the largest coastal feature in the United Kingdom that begins with the letter "Z". It gets its name from a local saint, Senara. Zennor Head was mined for copper and tin in the Victorian Era. There is no longer any residential or commercial occupancy on the headland, but it is occupied by a variety of coastal animals and plants, such as kestrels and gorse.
The name "Zennor Head" originates from the name of a local saint, Senara. According to local legend, Senara was thrown off a headland in Brittany in a barrel after being falsely accused of adultery by her husband and washed up on the Cornish coast, founding Zennor and giving her name to the eponymous village (and subsequently Zennor Head, Zennor Quoit and Porthzennor Cove), before continuing to Ireland.[1][2] The "s" changed to a "z", an occurrence common in the West Country but rare elsewhere, and as such is the largest coastal feature in the United Kingdom to begin with the letter "Z".[1]
Historyedit
Plaque commemorating donation to the National Trust
The headland is bordered by Cornish granite hedges, and the farming system dates from about 4000 BC, the time of the Bronze Age in Cornwall.[2] The surrounding area and village of Zennor has been continually occupied for over 4,000 years.[3] Zennor Head was mined extensively for copper and tin in the 19th century, and drainage adits remain visible on the eastern side.[3]
The promontory was donated to the National Trust in December 1953.[4] The Southwest Coast Path was created in 1978, and runs along the top of Zennor Head as part of its 630 miles (1,010 km),[3][5] following the edge of the cliffs closely.[6]Zennor in Darkness, the 1994 McKitterick Prize-winning novel by Helen Dunmore, was partly set around Zennor Head. In 2009 the headland suffered flooding which affected the cliff-top footpath.[7] The promontory has been designated as part of the PenwithHeritage Coast.[8][9]
Geography and geologyedit
Zennor Head is located on the north coast of Cornwall, England, facing the Atlantic Ocean. A headland extending some 750 metres (2,460 ft), it is surrounded by steep cliffs plunging into the sea below. It is west of the town of St Ives, and north-east of the town of Penzance. The nearest human settlement is the village of Zennor, and the headland is flanked by two coves, Pendour and Porthzennor. The nearest headland is Gurnard's Head, 1.6 kilometres to the west.[1][10] Access is from the South West Coast Path, or the B3306 road (West Cornwall coast road).[3] There is a deep inlet known as Horseback Zawn on the western side, where seabirds nest.[3] The headland is topped by an Ordnance Survey "Trig Point".[11] The Killas strata, which is exposed over the majority of Zennor Head, is a sedimentary rock formation[12] laid down in the Devonian period, between approximately 415 and 375 million years ago (myr).[13] Zennor Head is on the surface boundary of the so-called "Land's End Granite", part of the Cornubian batholith which dates from 279 to 274 myr.[3] However, the intrusion of the granite into the Killas strata altered it metamorphically into a shale-type rock.[3]
Fauna and Floraedit
Cornish chough (P. p. pyrrhocorax) flying in Penwith
Zennor Head is home to a variety of wildlife, including the Cornish chough (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax).[1]Grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) have been sighted off the coast.[14] Many seabirds nest on the cliffs, especially around Horseback Zawn, including herring gulls (Larus argentatus) and fulmars (Fulmarus glacialis).[3]Kestrels (Falco tinnunculus) hunt inland of the shoreline.[3]
^Zennor Headland, given to the National Trust (Commemorative Plaque). Zennor Head: The National Trust. 1953.
^"Walk - Zennor". South West Coast Path. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
^ . Homepage.ntlworld.com. Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 25 February 2012.
^Champion, Jim (15 August 2009). "Coast path temporarily closed near Zennor Head". Geograph. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
^"Penwith Heritage Coast". Britain Express. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
^Map of Zennor(PDF) (Map). Zennor Village: Zennor Parish Council. Retrieved 1 January 2013.[permanent dead link]
^Walking in Britain; by David Else, Sandra Bardwell, Belinda Dixon, Peter Dragicevich. Lonely Planet
^Ordnance Survey Landranger Map 203, Land's End & Isles of Scilly, 2002, ISBN978-0-319-23148-7
^Cornwall Wildlife Trust (2012). . Cornish Geology. Archived from the original on 14 January 2011. Retrieved 25 February 2012.
^Gradstein, Felix M.; Ogg, J. G. F.; Smith, A. G. A Geologic Time Scale 2004 (2004 ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN0-521-78673-8.
^G. A. Steven (1934). A Short Investigation into the Habits, Abundance, and Species of Seals on the North Cornwall Coast. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom (New Series), 19, pp 189–501 doi:10.1017/S0025315400046580
^West Penwith, Penzance & Land's End accessed 4 March 2012
^Coombe, D. E., & Morisset, P. (1967). Further observations on Trifolium occidentale. Watsonia, 6, 271–275.
^Sparrius, L. B., James, P. W., & Allen, M. A. (2005). The sorediate variety of Sclerophytomyces circumscriptus. The Lichenologist, 37(4), 285–290.
^French, Colin; Murphy, Rosaline; Atkinson, Mary (1999). Flora of Cornwall (1st ed.). Camborne: Wheal Seton Press. ISBN978 0953461301.
December 15, 2023
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Zennor Head ˈ z ɛ n ʊer h ɛ d Cornish Penn Senar is a 750 metre 2 460 ft long promontory on the Cornish coast of England between Pendour Cove and Porthzennor Cove Facing the Atlantic Ocean it lies 1 kilometre north west of the village of Zennor and 1 6 kilometres east of the next promontory Gurnard s Head The granite Killas cliffs rise over 200 feet 60 m from the sea and the highest point of the headland is 314 feet 96 m above sea level with an Ordnance Survey triangulation station Zennor Head is on the South West Coast Path which follows the cliff edge closely skirting the entire perimeter of the headland The promontory is part of the Penwith Heritage Coast and is the largest coastal feature in the United Kingdom that begins with the letter Z It gets its name from a local saint Senara Zennor Head was mined for copper and tin in the Victorian Era There is no longer any residential or commercial occupancy on the headland but it is occupied by a variety of coastal animals and plants such as kestrels and gorse Zennor HeadZennor Head looking northTypePromontoryLocationCornwallNearest cityZennorCoordinates50 11 53 N 5 34 26 W 50 198 N 5 574 W 50 198 5 574EtymologySaint SenaraOperated byNational Trust Contents 1 Etymology 2 History 3 Geography and geology 4 Fauna and Flora 5 Gallery 6 ReferencesEtymology editThe name Zennor Head originates from the name of a local saint Senara According to local legend Senara was thrown off a headland in Brittany in a barrel after being falsely accused of adultery by her husband and washed up on the Cornish coast founding Zennor and giving her name to the eponymous village and subsequently Zennor Head Zennor Quoit and Porthzennor Cove before continuing to Ireland 1 2 The s changed to a z an occurrence common in the West Country but rare elsewhere and as such is the largest coastal feature in the United Kingdom to begin with the letter Z 1 History edit nbsp Plaque commemorating donation to the National TrustThe headland is bordered by Cornish granite hedges and the farming system dates from about 4000 BC the time of the Bronze Age in Cornwall 2 The surrounding area and village of Zennor has been continually occupied for over 4 000 years 3 Zennor Head was mined extensively for copper and tin in the 19th century and drainage adits remain visible on the eastern side 3 The promontory was donated to the National Trust in December 1953 4 The Southwest Coast Path was created in 1978 and runs along the top of Zennor Head as part of its 630 miles 1 010 km 3 5 following the edge of the cliffs closely 6 Zennor in Darkness the 1994 McKitterick Prize winning novel by Helen Dunmore was partly set around Zennor Head In 2009 the headland suffered flooding which affected the cliff top footpath 7 The promontory has been designated as part of the Penwith Heritage Coast 8 9 Geography and geology editZennor Head is located on the north coast of Cornwall England facing the Atlantic Ocean A headland extending some 750 metres 2 460 ft it is surrounded by steep cliffs plunging into the sea below It is west of the town of St Ives and north east of the town of Penzance The nearest human settlement is the village of Zennor and the headland is flanked by two coves Pendour and Porthzennor The nearest headland is Gurnard s Head 1 6 kilometres to the west 1 10 Access is from the South West Coast Path or the B3306 road West Cornwall coast road 3 There is a deep inlet known as Horseback Zawn on the western side where seabirds nest 3 The headland is topped by an Ordnance Survey Trig Point 11 The Killas strata which is exposed over the majority of Zennor Head is a sedimentary rock formation 12 laid down in the Devonian period between approximately 415 and 375 million years ago myr 13 Zennor Head is on the surface boundary of the so called Land s End Granite part of the Cornubian batholith which dates from 279 to 274 myr 3 However the intrusion of the granite into the Killas strata altered it metamorphically into a shale type rock 3 Fauna and Flora edit nbsp Cornish chough P p pyrrhocorax flying in PenwithZennor Head is home to a variety of wildlife including the Cornish chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax 1 Grey seals Halichoerus grypus have been sighted off the coast 14 Many seabirds nest on the cliffs especially around Horseback Zawn including herring gulls Larus argentatus and fulmars Fulmarus glacialis 3 Kestrels Falco tinnunculus hunt inland of the shoreline 3 The headland is primarily covered with grass as well as heather Calluna vulgaris bracken Pteridium aquilinum thyme Thymus polytrichus and western gorse Ulex gallii 3 15 In 1962 specimens of the comparatively rare western clover Trifolium occidentale were found on Zennor Head 16 The lichen Dirina massiliensis has also been found high on the acid schist cliffs on the north seaward side of the headland 17 The parasitic plant dodder Cuscuta epithymum is found growing on gorse 3 There are also typical coastal flowering plants such as kidney vetch Anthyllis vulneraria sea campion Silene uniflora and thrift Armeria maritima 3 18 Gallery edit nbsp Perched rock at the foot of Zennor Head nbsp Common kestrel nbsp Eastern flank nbsp Thrift a coastal plant nbsp Zennor Head from inland nbsp Grey seal nbsp Horseback ZawnReferences edit nbsp Cornwall portal a b c d The Z to Z of Great Britain Dixie Wills Icon Books 2005 ISBN 1 84046 754 1 ISBN 978 1 84046 754 3 a b About Zennor Zennor Parish Council Archived from the original on 22 April 2009 Retrieved 17 February 2012 a b c d e f g h i j k l Zennor Head Walk National Trust permanent dead link retrieved 30 October 2012 Zennor Headland given to the National Trust Commemorative Plaque Zennor Head The National Trust 1953 Walk Zennor South West Coast Path Retrieved 2 January 2013 The Coastal Footpath Homepage ntlworld com Archived from the original on 25 April 2012 Retrieved 25 February 2012 Champion Jim 15 August 2009 Coast path temporarily closed near Zennor Head Geograph Retrieved 31 October 2012 Penwith Heritage Coast Britain Express Retrieved 17 February 2012 Map of Zennor PDF Map Zennor Village Zennor Parish Council Retrieved 1 January 2013 permanent dead link Walking in Britain by David Else Sandra Bardwell Belinda Dixon Peter Dragicevich Lonely Planet Ordnance Survey Landranger Map 203 Land s End amp Isles of Scilly 2002 ISBN 978 0 319 23148 7 Cornwall Wildlife Trust 2012 Killas Cornish Geology Archived from the original on 14 January 2011 Retrieved 25 February 2012 Gradstein Felix M Ogg J G F Smith A G A Geologic Time Scale 2004 2004 ed Cambridge Cambridge University Press ISBN 0 521 78673 8 G A Steven 1934 A Short Investigation into the Habits Abundance and Species of Seals on the North Cornwall Coast Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom New Series 19 pp 189 501 doi 10 1017 S0025315400046580 West Penwith Penzance amp Land s End accessed 4 March 2012 Coombe D E amp Morisset P 1967 Further observations on Trifolium occidentale Watsonia 6 271 275 Sparrius L B James P W amp Allen M A 2005 The sorediate variety of Sclerophytomyces circumscriptus The Lichenologist 37 4 285 290 French Colin Murphy Rosaline Atkinson Mary 1999 Flora of Cornwall 1st ed Camborne Wheal Seton Press ISBN 978 0953461301 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Zennor Head amp oldid 1189417452, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
