Island Life Magazine Ltd April/May 2010 | Page 149

food

Island Life - April/May 2010

many Victorian visitors wishing to view
the bay in which so many shipwrecks had
occurred.
The Tap continued with its old name
until 1963. Its new name was given by
the publican’s wife of the time, who
remembered the coastguards bursting in
with the dramatic words ‘Ship Ashore’. In
the early 1980’s the pub was refurbished
and remained trading until 1995.
The building’s structure has changed
little since the old days. The central
gabled portion contained the Tap and the
living accommodation above. The two

THE SHIP ASHORE TEA ROOMS
A brand new tea rooms has opened at

drinking house during the 17th century,

Blackgang, adjacent to the new attraction

but was certainly operating by the mid

called The Disappearing Village.

1830s.

The building was, for many years, the

Following the infamous shipwreck of

taproom for The Blackgang Chine Hotel,

The Clarendon in Chale Bay in 1836, a

known simply as the Blackgang Tap.

Mr. Jacobs built the Blackgang Chine

It may well have been an unlicensed

hotel in 1837, to take advantage of the

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wings on either side were stabling for
20-30 horses.
Today, the lovely stone building has
been opened again with a classic redesign
to provide a quality tea rooms ideally
situated for both visitors and residents
alike. Visit the new Ship Ashore tearooms
at Blackgang Chine.

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