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| The Bush Inn has a long history of providing
hospitality dating back to 950AD. It is believed at that time to have been
a monk's rest for those on the pilgrimage route from Wales to Spain who
crossed Cornwall between the North Devon ports and Fowey. In the main bar you can still see the celtic piscina cut from serpentine stone and a monastic cross is carved into the flagstone floor by the door leading to the garden. Situated in the middle bar is the "Leper's Squint"; a tiny window through which scraps of food were passed to the needy of the parish. In later years we are told the squint was used as a lookout, the Bush Inn having become a popular haunt for the wreckers and smugglers who operated on this treacherous part of the north Cornish coast and who naturally, were anxious to avoid the Revenue officers! The most infamous smuggler on this part of the coast was Cruel Coppinger, a notorious, sadistic individual who came ashore at Welcombe Mouth in 1792, the sole survivor of a wrecked Danish vessel. He operated along this stretch of coast with his gang of cut throats and such was their reputation that even the Revenue Officers avoided them! Coppinger's dreadful deeds were the subject of writings of Rev Hawker,
the famous Vicar and poet of Morwenstow. One legend says Coppinger escaped
from the authorities by mysteriously disappearing one misty night, from
nearby Marsland Mouth.
Tel: 01288 331242.
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introduction history of the bush inn where we are in north cornwall walk the wild coastpath feast in our new restaurant country bed & breakfast self catering accommodation contact us |
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