Island Life Magazine Ltd June/July 2014 | Page 114

the British Museum to this
day. There is a long smuggling
tunnel, which runs all the way
from beneath the cottage to the
bottom of Shanklin Chine. It is
reckoned that Vernon Cottage
was at the heart of the Island’s
huge smuggling empire in the
early 19th century.
Vernon Cottage also has
a large 10ft ‘secret’ room
underneath the present day
upstairs lounge which was
used to hide huge amounts of
contraband. It is also reported
to be home to a beautiful
female ghost called Frances,
the housekeeper who fell in
love with the original Master
of the house, and lived there
for 30 years until she fell down
the stairs and died. Frances,
who appears as her stunning
younger self, loves Vernon
Cottage and leaves five pence
pieces for the owners - and
visitors - when she approves of
their behaviour!
The historic building that is
now Daish’s Hotel is almost

114

www.visitilife.com

directly opposite Vernon
Cottage, and had a reputation
for being one of the premier
hotels on the Island, having
once welcomed Queen Victoria,
who stayed in Room 31.
Its decline saw it fall into
serious disrepair by the
1970s. The Daish's Group was
founded by Jeanne Wilson,
who purchased Daish's Hotel
in Shanklin, and after a year of
renovation, mostly carried out
by family and friends, Daish’s
re-opened, and has been a
thriving establishment ever
since, welcoming coach parties
from all over the country.
There is an excellent choice
of restaurants in Shanklin Old
Village, which also has its own
fish and chip shop and rock
shop, both situated opposite
the War Memorial, which is
dedicated to the local men who
lost their lives in both World
Wars.
One of the most photographed
buildings in Shanklin Old
Village is Pencil Cottage, a