Embarking on a journey to weave a fresh tapestry of stories of the Cornish borderlands, Sam Horton and Caleb Barron harnessed the lived experience and imaginations of the communities across East Cornwall. Together, they presented numerous interactions to breathe life into a contemporary folklore that delves into the very essence of what it means to be ‘folk on the edge.’
In this immersive project, the duo engaged communities in five walks that stretched the East Cornwall border, starting at Kilminorth Woods in Looe and ending in St Morwenna in Bude. They also delivered workshops in the towns and surrounding areas of Bude, Launceston, Liskeard, and Looe, these covered Folk songwriting, costume making, story-telling, morris dancing and headdress creations. Mark Norman, Folklore researcher, author, curator of the Folklore Library and Archive, and host of the Folklore Podcast gave a talk about the importance of Folklore, why we collect and preserve it, and looked at the stories and tradition from along the Cornish border at the historic Stowe Barton Farm, supported by the National Trust.
The heart of the initiative lies in empowering the local community to explore and embrace the fascinating realms of folklore, costume, and performance art. As people came together to share their stories and experiences, a mosaic of perspectives emerged. This collaboration not only deepens the understanding of the cultural tapestry of the Cornish borderlands but also fosters a sense of unity and shared creativity, becoming an incubator for new ideas and interpretations.
