The New Murrey and Blue blog

“Romantic and storied” St Michael’s Mount in Cornwall….

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Once again the excellent Country Life magazine has come up with an interesting item, this time about St Michael’s Mount in Cornwall Unfortunately, considering this is a Country Life article, there aren’t many photographs, and none at all of the castle interior. But if you go here you’ll find some very exciting views of the approach to the island and then climbing up to the castle, as well as some interior photographs.

But the island is termed “Romantic and storied”, and yes, indeed, it is. Now the home of the St Aubyn family, it has emerged through a chequered history, and although its big brother in France is majestic and so on, it’s our smaller version that wins hands down for me. St Michael’s Mount is far more atmospheric and mysterious, and has inspired writers through the centuries, even me. I wrote a Regency-era novel that gave a large nod toward Cornwall’s legends and myths, including Lyonesse, church bells under the water and so on.

There aren’t any interior photos at the Mount’s website either, but there is a lot of other information. The above illustration is from the latter website.

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  1. Cyuen G. Avatar
    Cyuen G.

    I haven’t visited this place, but I have been to the Mont Saint Michel in France. Islands of that kind do have a sort of peculiar atmosphere of their own. It was a very dark, cloudy day, cold and at times raining heavily. It was not really the time of year most people visit, as it was late autumn or early winter. Everything looked very medieval and it didn’t have much of a modern feel to it. Especially as it was so dark, and most electric lighting was inside the buildings and not very bright.

    In the abbey at the top, we joined a small tour group, with only a handful of people. I found the architecture very fascinating, unique, and beautiful. Especially how everything is built vertically, structures stacked upon older structures, yet still looking uniform and artfully put together. In the church part of the abbey, the tall windows all around let in the light in such a way that the place was well lit with silvery light despite the cloudiness of the day. The older areas below were dark, mostly windowless and full of pillars. I found it mysterious and awesome to look at. It left an impression on me that I can’t quite define, especially while hearing about the place’s long history. In some old buildings and locations you seem to notice the weight of history, whereas here it still felt ‘light’ despite the centuries.

    The architecture is well made and well preserved, but sadly the faces of statues are smashed off due to the French Revolution (where they revolted against Anything and Everything, very unfortunate for religious imagery).

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