An interview with a map printer We have some remarkably skilled people here at Dennis…
The legends of Cornwall come to life like never before in a new map, designed by Dark Cornwall and printed by Dennis Maps. One side of the Dark Folklore map is packed with almost 100 locations where you’ll discover the county’s folklore, dark history and prehistoric sites. The other side of the folded map is a stunning collage, that delves deeper into the mystical stories from Cornwall’s past. We chat to Rob Vickery, co-founder of Dark Cornwall, to discover more.
Can you tell us more about your interest in Cornish folklore?
I’ve spent most of my life in the West Country – I live in West Cornwall. From a young age, I always heard Cornish folklore stories from family.
How did your company, Dark Cornwall, come about?
We only founded the company four months ago and by accident! I was looking for ways to tell Cornish folklore to my two young boys and thought ‘why don’t we get these stories out there and in a more bold and beautiful way?’. I commissioned an artist called Morgana Weeks, who’s now the co-founder of Dark Cornwall, to create artwork to illustrate these stories.
What does Dark Cornwall do?
At its heart Dark Cornwall is a storytelling platform, sharing the folklore of Cornwall. We create a more meaningful connection to Cornish folklore through storytelling, art and events. A big part of what we do is commissioning artists from around the county to share their artwork. We also sell merchandise, such as artwork and t-shirts, and organise events.
What inspired you to create the Dark Folklore Map?
I wanted a way for people to understand the absolute wealth of folkloric sites we have in Cornwall, not just fantastical, but Neolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age and more. Then, perhaps, when people visit they’ll think about some of the sites they might drive past. It’s also about promoting a more sustainable, environmentally friendly form of tourism. Inside the front cover of the map, you’ll find a guide to visiting the sites respectfully. The map is even made from sustainably sourced paper and vegetable-based inks.
Why do you think the Dark Folklore Map is important?
It preserves our stories and legends as they were meant to be. ‘Dark’ Cornwall isn’t necessarily meant to mean dark as in scary, it’s more things people are in the dark about. Dark is meant in a multifaceted way.
What research did you carry out to create the map?
I mostly went through archives and my own Cornish folklore library, going through books from the 18th century until today. I did lots of research online too and went out to visit sites. Going to the sites also meant I could take photos, which you’ll see on the map.
What was your favourite part of making the map?
Probably writing the stories on the reverse. I enjoyed the creative writing process. It gave me the chance to really dig into some of the stories and to simplify the longer ones. Doing so was a good lesson in making stories more concise and impactful.
Did you encounter any obstacles?
Probably the biggest one was knowing how many maps to print, as I didn’t know what the demand would be like. I wish I’d printed more!
How has the map been received?
We’ve sold hundreds of copies since it was released a few weeks ago and are almost out of stock. We’ve had buyers from all over the world. A lot of bookshops have asked for copies and a national tourism operator too. The feedback has been electric. I’m already planning to do another print run.
How did you find working with Dennis Maps?
A pleasure, they gave me all the templates and helped me out with the layout of the images. They were really helpful. I’ve never done this before and they helped me all the way through.
What’s next for Dark Cornwall?
We’re creating a large, hardback Cornish folklore compendium right now. We also have an animated series in early production, which is entirely created in Kernewek [the Cornish language] with English subtitles. We’re working on a kids’ version of the Dark Folklore Map too. It’ll be full colour, with even more illustrations and without some of the scarier stuff from the original map. It should be published in the next couple months. Hopefully more kids will become interested in mermaids, sea serpents and all the fantastical creatures of Cornish folklore.
Dennis Maps is one of the leading map printers in the world, producing more than two million maps and charts every year. We offer comprehensive pre-press services, large format print solutions using both large format litho printing and large format digital print technologies, plus specialised map folding and map finishing techniques.