I called at the Jamaica Inn in recently on a trip to Cornwall, England. The inn was constructed in 1750 and was first used as a stopover by travellers. Going to and from London using coach and horses. It was given the name Jamaica Inn after the Caribbean island. At the time the island was a significant source of income for England.
One of the most famous aspects of Jamaica Inn, is its association with notorious smugglers. Who operated in the area during the 18th and 19th centuries. The inn was ideally located for smugglers, as it was situated on the main route from the coast to Bodmin. The area had a network of secret passages and tunnels that allowed smugglers to move goods without being detected. The inn was also known to be frequented by pirates & other various unsavory characters.
The Jamaica Inn rose to fame in the 20th century as the location of the book by the same name. Which was written by Daphne du Maurier. The protagonist of the book is Mary Yellan, who, after the passing of her mother, moves in with her aunt at Jamaica Inn. Soon after learning that her aunt is a local smuggler, Mary finds herself caught up in the smugglers underworld.
Today as I visit, the Jamaica Inn is a popular tourist attraction, with a museum dedicated to its history as a coaching inn & smugglers' haunt. The museum displays a range of items including smugglers' contraband, weapons, and tools. Visitors can also explore the secret passages & tunnels that were used by smugglers in the past.
The inn itself still operates as a hotel & restaurant. Offering visitors the chance to stay in one of its historic rooms & sample some traditional Cornish cuisine.
More info: cornwall-holidays.org
The Jamaica Inn
