- Jamaica Inn
The Jamaica Inn is a free house on the borders of
Bodmin Moor inCornwall . Built as a coaching house in 1750, it is famous for being the base ofsmuggle rs in the past and known as the setting forDaphne du Maurier 's novel of the same name. [cite news
last = Paschke
first = Jean
coauthors =
title = The Cornwall of Daphne du Maurier
work = British Heritage
pages =
language =
publisher = Weider History Group
date = March 2007
url = http://www.historynet.com/magazines/british_heritage/7312776.html?showAll=y&c=y
accessdate = 2007-11-11] The young author was inspired to write her novel when, having gone horseriding on the moors she became lost in thick fog and sought refuge at the inn; whilst recovering from her ordeal the local rector is supposed to have entertained her with ghost stories and tales of smuggling; he would later become the inspiration for the enigmatic character of the Vicar ofAltarnun .The novel was made into the film "Jamaica Inn" in 1939 by
Alfred Hitchcock .It is rumoured to be haunted and has featured in an episode of the British TV programme, "
Most Haunted ", on the TV channel LIVINGtv. Notable apparitions include a malevolent figure of ahighwayman in a tri-cornered hat, an anguished young mother and her baby and the spirit of a young smuggler who is believed to have been murdered and who has been seen sitting on the wall in the courtyard.Until quite recently the building housed a large collection of stuffed animals (see
Taxidermy ) in complexdioramas , such as an animal courthouse or school classroom comprised of baby squirrels.These exhibits were original Victorian creations and although popular in their day are now viewed as being somewhat macabre; that in no way affected their value when the collection went up forauction and made quite a considerable amount of money.Jamaica Inn has retained its other attraction, a display of various items owned by du Maurier, including her writing desk and typewriter.
The hotel is referenced in "Jamaica Inn" a song written by
Tori Amos on her album "The Beekeeper ".The pilot episode of a new British TV series 'I Want To Believe' is to be filmed in the hotel in January 2009.
References
External links
* [http://www.jamaicainn.co.uk/ Homepage of Jamaica Inn]
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