The famous Cornish family who used to own this property at one time were the "Carnes". They owned a Brewery in Falmouth and some of you may recollect the name of Colonel Carne who was a V.C. in Korea. One of the most notorious owners recorded on our Deeds was a gentleman by the name of James who was known to have operated a privateer from the old St. Agnes Harbour.
It is said that somewhere underneath this property there is a passage which links the house to part of the coast where smuggled Brandy and such like was brought in. We have never been able to find it but maybe one day we will come across it.
St. Agnes Harbour, which has subsequently been destroyed by a storm, was used mainly for the shipping of tin from St. Agnes across to South Wales for smelting.
At that time the village of St. Agnes had a population of some 14,000 as opposed to 4,500 today and they say there were seventeen pubs or speakeasies in the village and it is known that there were fourteen Excise Men stationed here to prevent smuggling. The North Cornish coast was then a smugglers' paradise-in fact it was known as "Wreckers' Coast".
Rosemundy was opened as a Hotel in May 1967 with approximately seventeen bedrooms. Since extended, the hotel now has forty-four bedrooms. The restaurant was built in 1968 and is known as the "Tom Noggi Room."
A lot of people are always interested to know the origin of the name "Tom Noggi". For the unenlightened. Cornwall, up until 100 years ago used to be one of the largest tin producing areas in the world. But, with the advent of tin being produced much cheaper in Malaysia and South America, the majority of these tin mines, and at that time they numbered over 300, started to close down.
There is an old Cornish superstition that the "little people" who lived in the Mines with the miners were called the Tom Noggi people, and they were somewhat concerned when the mines started to close not knowing where to go or what to do. After looking around they found Rosemundy with its woods. They liked the look of the place, they moved in and they have been here ever since. Hence the origin of the name of its Restaurant.
Sometimes, it is said, that the "little people" have been known to pop into the Hotel to see what sort of guests we have staying here. We normally tell people that if they are sitting in the Tom Noggi Room having dinner at night, and feel something scratching at their foot, don't be unduly concerned because it is one of our little friends come to see come to see who you are.
To a certain extent we have commercialised Tom Noggi in as much as we have reproduced his picture on postcards and other items. Behind the Bar you will see our sculptor's interpretation of exactly what Tom Noggi looked like, and it is believed that if at any time you choose to rub his head it will bring you good luck.
A lot of people who are not superstitious laugh at this tale but we can tell you that we have had two people here within the last three years who have won on the Football Pools. One gentleman, in particular, won over £16,000. We like to think that Tom Noggi in his modest way contributed to his good fortune.
People are also interested to know what we do with the Tom Noggi Room in the Winter months. The room is used extensively for Banquets, Private Parties, Wedding Receptions, Dances etc. and we are therefore kept very busy the whole of the Winter.
This, briefly, is the history of the Hotel and the Tom Noggi people. If there is any further information you wish to have, we will be delighted to help you and you will of course find locally a number of historical books which can enlarge your knowledge of our unusual County.
The Rosemundy House Hotel
St Agnes
Cornwall
TR5 0UF
Telephone: 01872 552101
Fax: 01872 554000
Email:info@rosemundy.co.uk
| Attraction | miles |
|---|---|
Boscastle – Witch Museum |
45 |
Tintagel – King Arthur |
45 |
| Padstow – Rick Stein | 29 |
| Watergate Bay – Surfing | 15 |
| Newquay – Zoo | 12 |
| Perranporth – Golf | 5 |
| St Ives – Tate Gallery | 23 |
| Porthcurno –Minack Theatre | 33 |
| Lizard – Southern Point | 35 |
| Gweek – Seal Santary | 25 |
| Penzance – Isles of Scilly | 25 |
| Marazion – St Micheals Mount | 24 |
| Helston – Falmbards | 23 |
| Falmouth – Maritime Museum | 18 |
| Truro – Cathedral City | 8 |
| St Mawes – Castle | 18 |
| Mevagissey – Lost Gardens of Heligan | 28 |
| Charlestown – Tall Ships | 25 |
| Bodmin – Lanhyradrock | 31 |
| St Austell – Eden Project | 28 |