The Jamaica Inn was built in 1750 as a coaching Inn, to give shelter to travellers as they passed over the wind swept moors. The inn and its shadowy past were both immortalised in Daphne du Mauriers novel, "Jamaica Inn" published in 1936. Its isolated location made it a popular stop for smugglers and Highwayman. The Jamaica Inn has changed little over the last 200 years and has not lost its original charm.
Some say ghosts frequent Jamaica Inn because of its rich and long history, others say that they are attracted here after becoming lost on the treacherous Bodmin Moor. Whatever the reason a large number of ghosts are regular "visitors" to the Inn. The Most Haunted team that filmed here recorded 15 different ghosts during there investigations.
Guests staying at Jamaica Inn have frequently reported hearing footsteps, unexplained movement of doors and other objects. Ghost hunters and psychics brought to Jamaica Inn including the Ghost Society have determined that there were several ghosts there. The most reported sightings are that of a man who has been seen by many people, sitting on the wall outside the Inn. He neither speaks, moves or acknowledges a greeting but his appearance is uncannily similar to a man who disappeared from Jamaica Inn in the 19th century and was found dead on the moor nearby. It is believed that it is his ghostly footsteps that are often heard by staff and visitors at 'Mary's' bar.
Previous managers of Jamaica Inn have heard conversations uttered in a foreign tongue. Visitors have reported cold spots in their rooms, photographs with orbs in are also common. The ghost of a gentleman wearing a Cloak and three-cornered hat has been witnesses in the bar area, the spirit is usually seen walking through closed doors. Locals believe that this is the spirit of Jack Travellis a notorious smuggler who was put to death close by.
Two guests Mr. K. Pettit and his wife of Strood in Kent witnessed the ghost in there bedroom. 'We were shown into the last room on the right of the corridor', he said 'but shortly after falling asleep my wife woke me and said that there was a man standing by the bedroom door. I could see him rather faintly. He seemed to have a three-corned hat and a long, old fashioned coat. He moved gradually and slowly along the end of the beds and the room suddenly went very cold. When he reached the large wardrobe he just walked straight through it and disappeared'.
One of the most extraordinary collections of Victorian taxidermy and other curiosities was auctioned at Jamaica Inn in September 2003 and raised over half a million pounds. The Jamaica Inn has been home to The Potters Museum of Curiosities for the past 16 years. The fascinating and eclectic collection of over 10,000 items included around 6,000 pieces of taxidermy created mainly by the famous Victorian taxidermist Walter Potter.
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