http://www.skiddenhouse.co.uk/skidden_history_st_ives.html
Another owner was Captain Sampson, whose lugger plied between St. Ives and Dublin carrying fish and
potatoes. In Dublin, he became friendly with one Arthur Guinness who had taken to brewing his own
particular brand of stout. So fond of the stout did the Captain become, that he started to bring the Guinness
Stout back with him. Soon, the local St Ives men also took a liking to the fine brew and so the good Captain
entered into an agreement with Arthur, in about 1760, that Skidden House would always be supplied with the
special brew. Thus Skidden House Hotel became the first place in the United Kingdom to sell Guinness.
potatoes. In Dublin, he became friendly with one Arthur Guinness who had taken to brewing his own
particular brand of stout. So fond of the stout did the Captain become, that he started to bring the Guinness
Stout back with him. Soon, the local St Ives men also took a liking to the fine brew and so the good Captain
entered into an agreement with Arthur, in about 1760, that Skidden House would always be supplied with the
special brew. Thus Skidden House Hotel became the first place in the United Kingdom to sell Guinness.
Skidden house hotel is believed to have been built around 1540 and was a Coaching
Inn strategically placed at the bottom of Skidden Hill on the old main coaching road,
so that a full team of horses could be hitched to haul coaches and wagons up the hill
to where the coaches came to rest after they were ‘skidden down’.
The hotel has had a long and varied history and many noted owners. It seems that it
was used as transit point for Royalist prisoners returning to the mainland, after
Cromwell had suppressed the Isles of Scilly. Legend has it that at the Restoration it
became a somewhat notorious licenced brothel. Indeed it kept that tradition, more
on than off until the very later 1800’s when Bettsie ‘Chill-off’ finally lost the Alehouse
only licence for as well as serving the gallant men of H.M. the Queens Royal Navy
with smuggled brandy and rum in their beer, to keep the chill off, provided
entertainments in other ways.
Inn strategically placed at the bottom of Skidden Hill on the old main coaching road,
so that a full team of horses could be hitched to haul coaches and wagons up the hill
to where the coaches came to rest after they were ‘skidden down’.
The hotel has had a long and varied history and many noted owners. It seems that it
was used as transit point for Royalist prisoners returning to the mainland, after
Cromwell had suppressed the Isles of Scilly. Legend has it that at the Restoration it
became a somewhat notorious licenced brothel. Indeed it kept that tradition, more
on than off until the very later 1800’s when Bettsie ‘Chill-off’ finally lost the Alehouse
only licence for as well as serving the gallant men of H.M. the Queens Royal Navy
with smuggled brandy and rum in their beer, to keep the chill off, provided
entertainments in other ways.
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However, it soon became clear to Captain Sampson that the famous local stout (known as Guinness) was
the most profitable and popular of his cargoes. As the years went by, more and more Guinness came over in
the Captains lugger.
Eventually, when he became too old to undertake the trips, he made an agreement with Mr. Arthur Guinness
for a regular supply of the Irish stout to be sent from Dublin to St. Ives. His son inherited this agreement
when the Captain died and Guinness continued to be shipped for many years.
Apparently, by agreement, an independent up-country firm obtained a licence to bottle and distribute in
Great Britain - hitherto Skidden House being the only outlet in Great Britain at that time.
These independent bottlers tried to stop the supply of Guinness to the inn but the directors of Guinness
decided that as the agreement with Captain Sampson was signed by the original Mr. Guinness, it should be
honoured. Thus, this ancient inn was the only place at that time where Guinness was served on tap.
On the death of Captain Sampson's son the licence lapsed and the original agreement ended.
the most profitable and popular of his cargoes. As the years went by, more and more Guinness came over in
the Captains lugger.
Eventually, when he became too old to undertake the trips, he made an agreement with Mr. Arthur Guinness
for a regular supply of the Irish stout to be sent from Dublin to St. Ives. His son inherited this agreement
when the Captain died and Guinness continued to be shipped for many years.
Apparently, by agreement, an independent up-country firm obtained a licence to bottle and distribute in
Great Britain - hitherto Skidden House being the only outlet in Great Britain at that time.
These independent bottlers tried to stop the supply of Guinness to the inn but the directors of Guinness
decided that as the agreement with Captain Sampson was signed by the original Mr. Guinness, it should be
honoured. Thus, this ancient inn was the only place at that time where Guinness was served on tap.
On the death of Captain Sampson's son the licence lapsed and the original agreement ended.
The Guinness Company is doing its bit for Cornish tourism in general and St. Ives
in particular, by promoting the Skidden House Hotel and its special association
with their famous product.
Some of the history of this old inn has been included in a 'Guinness Brewing' fact
sheet, informing lovers of the brew that it is still 'on tap' at the Skidden House Hotel.
In the late 1700's, Captain Sampson, a trader and owner of Skidden House, would
sail from St. Ives in his lugger loaded with barrels of pilchards bound for Dublin.
Here he would unload his cargo of Cornish fish and, in the early days, load up with
all manner of Irish wares.
in particular, by promoting the Skidden House Hotel and its special association
with their famous product.
Some of the history of this old inn has been included in a 'Guinness Brewing' fact
sheet, informing lovers of the brew that it is still 'on tap' at the Skidden House Hotel.
In the late 1700's, Captain Sampson, a trader and owner of Skidden House, would
sail from St. Ives in his lugger loaded with barrels of pilchards bound for Dublin.
Here he would unload his cargo of Cornish fish and, in the early days, load up with
all manner of Irish wares.
The name 'Skidden Hill', once the main road into St. Ives, came from the term to
describe how carts were brought down the steep slopes to the shore. To prevent
them rolling off down narrow lanes, metal skids were placed in front of the
cartwheels and skillfully edged forwards by the workers, hence the word to
'Skidden' something down the Hill.thing down the hill.
Source: The St. Ives Times And Echo, March 25th 1988.)
describe how carts were brought down the steep slopes to the shore. To prevent
them rolling off down narrow lanes, metal skids were placed in front of the
cartwheels and skillfully edged forwards by the workers, hence the word to
'Skidden' something down the Hill.thing down the hill.
Source: The St. Ives Times And Echo, March 25th 1988.)
The hotel in its time has been used as a Doctors surgery and also a school, but always
quickly reverting to its true role of a hotel, welcoming visitors with its special charm
and instilling in its guests that feeling of goodwill and tranquillity that you are bound to
notice on your arrival here.
quickly reverting to its true role of a hotel, welcoming visitors with its special charm
and instilling in its guests that feeling of goodwill and tranquillity that you are bound to
notice on your arrival here.
Skidden Hill used to be the main road down into the centre of St. Ives before construction of The Terrace. As
you cross Tregenna Hill at the top of Skidden Hill there are some steps continuing upwards which themselves
used to be a part of the route into the town. The first building at the foot of the steps is the old Post Office, just
a short walk from "Porth Enys".
you cross Tregenna Hill at the top of Skidden Hill there are some steps continuing upwards which themselves
used to be a part of the route into the town. The first building at the foot of the steps is the old Post Office, just
a short walk from "Porth Enys".
| Skidden House Hotel, Skidden Hill, St. Ives, Cornwall, TR26 2DU, United Kingdom - Tel: +44 (0) 1736 796 899 |
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| Not Just a Hotel but a part of Cornish History |
| The Guinness Connection |