Island Life Magazine Ltd June/July 2014 | Page 115

17th century thatched cottage
nestled right in the heart of the
Village, and situated just above
the entrance to Shanklin Chine.
Pencil Cottage has gifts and
antiques on offer for all tastes,
and also has a fine tea garden.
Next door is the Crab Inn,
which has changed with the
times, but still retains the
Victorian drinking fountain in
its front garden which bears the
inscription:
“O traveller stay thy weary
feet, Drink of this fountain pure
and sweet, It flows for rich &
poor the same, Then go thy way
remembering still, The wayside
well beneath the hill, The cup
of water in his name.” Henry
Wadsworth Longfellow, 1868.
Paul Ottley has lived in
Shanklin Old Village for more
than 60 years, moving to the
Island from London in 1953
when his father took over the
Glenbrook Hotel, now known
as King Harry’s bar, and easily
recognisable with its wooden
stocks near the entrance.

Since then Paul has had
close ties with three of the four
licensed premises that stand
so close together, surrounding
the famous twist in the road.
When he settled h