Mousehole’s reputation reaches well beyond Cornwall, largely thanks to a children’s book about a fisherman and his cat. But the village’s art scene runs deeper than the book alone, tied into the same artistic movement that made nearby Newlyn and St Ives famous.
The Mousehole Cat
What is The Mousehole Cat?
A much-loved children’s picture book written by Antonia Barber, set in Mousehole and inspired by the Tom Bawcock’s Eve legend. It’s become the village’s best-known cultural export, introducing Mousehole to readers who may never have heard of it otherwise.
What is the cat’s name in the book?
Mowzer, who is central to the story’s telling of how the village was saved from starvation during a terrible storm.
Who is Mowzer’s owner?
The old fisherman Tom Bawcock, the same figure honoured each year in Mousehole’s Tom Bawcock’s Eve celebrations on 23 December.
What is the Great Storm Cat in the story?
The personification of the violent winter sea threatening the village in the book, a storytelling device that gives the harsh Atlantic weather a character of its own.
Is there an animation or play based on the book?
Yes, puppet shows and stage adaptations run fairly frequently in Cornwall around Christmas time, often drawing directly on the book’s storm-and-storm-survival themes.
Are there any gift shops dedicated to the book?
Several local shops sell Mowzer-themed merchandise and artwork, making it easy to bring a piece of the story home with you.
Has Mousehole been used as a filming location?
Yes, the village has featured in various BBC dramas, coastal documentaries and romantic films over the years, drawn by the same photogenic harbour that attracts painters and photographers.
Galleries, Pottery & Festivals
Why are there so many art galleries in Mousehole?
The village became an extension of the famous Newlyn School of artists, drawn here by the same unique natural light that shaped the wider West Cornwall art movement of the 19th and 20th centuries.
What can you buy at The Mowzer Gallery?
Original paintings, pottery and coastal artwork from local Cornish creators, a good stop if you’re after something more personal than a standard souvenir.
Is there a local pottery studio?
Yes, independent potters work out of small residential studios tucked into the village’s back lanes, well worth seeking out if you enjoy watching a craft in progress.
What is the Sea Salts and Sail Festival?
A biennial event celebrating traditional maritime canvas-sailed vessels, bringing historic boats and a real sense of Mousehole’s fishing heritage back into the harbour for a weekend.
When does the Sea Salts and Sail festival happen?
It takes place every two years, on even-numbered years, over a summer weekend. Worth checking the current schedule if you’d like to time a visit around it.
Guides
The Ultimate Mousehole Travel Guide: 100+ Questions Answered
Day Trips From Mousehole
Where To Stay And Eat In Mousehole
Beaches, Wildlife And Nature In Mousehole
Art, Culture And The Mousehole Cat
Christmas In Mousehole
The Penlee Lifeboat Disaster, Mousehole
The History Of Mousehole
How To Get To Mousehole
How To Pronounce ‘Mousehole’
The best places to park in Mousehole
The best things to do in Mousehole
The best places to stay in Mousehole
