Alfred Hitchcock

Would you dare to the stay the night in Cornwall in what is said to be one of the most haunted hotels in the UK? Well – one woman did, and it inspired her murder mystery novel

Perched on Bodmin Moor in Cornwall, this hotel is renowned for its eerie tales and rich history, tracing back to the 1750s.

As we’re in the midst of the spooky season, there’s nothing quite as chilling as spending a night in a hotel reputed to be one of the most haunted in the UK. The Jamaica Inn, an old coaching inn with a dark past believed to involve smuggling and ghostly stories, is famous for its spine-tingling reputation.

Originally built in 1750 as a coaching stop, the hotel now serves as a pub, restaurant and hotel, with a dedicated area for learning about the alleged spectral encounters. The Grade II-listed building exudes charm – and fear – with its traditional oak beams and snug rooms.

However, before it became a popular spot for food and overnight stays, it was infamous as a hub for the Cornwall smuggling trade. Its isolated location on the moors made it notorious for smugglers transporting goods like tea, brandy and silks from the sea, hidden beneath the floors and panels.

The isolation of the Jamaica Inn was its greatest asset in those days, often frequented by mysterious figures under dimly lit lanterns. Despite its modern touches, it was creepy enough for English author Daphne du Maurier to base her entire murder mystery novel on her stay there in 1936.

Taking its name from the precise spot where it stands, Jamaica Inn became a literary sensation amongst readers and was subsequently transformed into a film under Alfred Hitchcock’s direction.

The movie marked the final British production he would helm before departing for Hollywood, where he would establish himself as one of cinema’s legendary figures, earning up to six Oscar victories.

Thus, despite its shadowy and occasionally unlawful past, the inn achieved immortality through du Maurier’s fictional masterpiece, as she found herself captivated by the brooding heritage and spooky presence of the establishment and its bleak landscape.

Today in the 20th century, Jamaica Inn has evolved into something of a regional icon, where visitors pause to rest and discover its enduring legacy. One guest posted on TripAdvisor: “Had a thoroughly enjoyable two-night stay.

“The views from the inn were amazing onto the moor. The atmosphere was as expected from an old smugglers’ inn, full of mystery and intrigue!”.

Another visitor, eager to witness a supernatural encounter or sense the presence of the smugglers who once trod these very boards, recounted their spine-chilling experience.

They wrote: “We had done some research before arriving and saw that some rooms in the new, and many rooms in the original, areas have had activity from the paranormal…”

They shared tales about their terrifying night’s sleep – or their lack of. “Within a few minutes I was in the bathroom getting ready for a shower and heard a very loud male whistle from inside the room (corner nearest the bedroom). When asking my partner if she had whistled and getting a response of ‘absolutely NO’ I suddenly felt on edge.”

It’s no mystery that whilst the hotel has been transformed into a contemporary cosy pub and inn popular with travellers, its spine-chilling past is renowned for good reason. Whilst many other guests claim to have never experienced anything of the sort, others can’t help but let their minds wander.

The show based on a famous gothic novel was adapted for the BBC in a 2014 miniseries and it stars a familiar face from Downton Abbey.

BBC enthusiasts have been left gobsmacked by a period drama miniseries they’re calling a “masterpiece” – and it’s crafted from the pages of a novel by a “queen of the genre”. The gothic tale of Jamaica Inn, penned by Daphne Du Maurier in 1936, has been brought to life in a gripping 2014 adaptation.

Set against the backdrop of 1821, Jamaica Inn spins the story of Mary Yellan, who after the heartbreak of losing her mother, goes to live with her aunt at the eponymous coaching inn in Cornwall. However, Mary soon discovers the inn’s lack of guests hides a dark secret, as she stumbles upon a nest of criminal dealings and finds herself entangled in romance with a dashing petty thief.

The series features Downton Abbey star Jessica Brown Findlay portraying the intrepid Mary and Matthew McNulty as her roguish love interest Jem Merlyn, joined by Emmerdale‘s own Danny Miller and Andrew Scarborough.

Upon its initial release, Jamaica Inn faced a barrage of criticism over sound issues, with complaints about the cast’s “mumbling” – yet, those revisiting the series over a decade later are now singing its praises for its captivating allure, reports the Express.

One critique read: “This adaptation struck the right mood, it seemed to me – dark and subtly sinister.”

Another viewer was enchanted, describing it as “dark and beautiful”, and adding: “Very beautiful adaptation of the Du Maurier classic novel to a TV mini-series. There is a reason why Hitchcock directed this back in 1939. The atmosphere set is hypnotic at times.

“The music is well-chosen. It sets the right mood. When I first read the book, I imagined the setting to be similar but not quite as beautiful as shown here.”

The New York Times lauded the novel behind the adaptation, hailing it as a work by “the queen of the form”, and an ideal read for “readers of Gothic thrillers”.

Jamaica Inn is no stranger to screen adaptations; its most renowned version was Alfred Hitchcock’s 1939 film.

The story also graced television screens in an ITV miniseries back in 1983 with Jane Seymour taking the lead, and it even crossed over into French television with a TV movie in 1995.

Jamaica Inn is available to stream on ITV Premium.