The tiny home of an infamous smuggler nestled among the dunes at a now popular tourist spot has been turned into a luxury holiday let where only two people can stay. Tom Parsons would be spinning in his grave if he could see what his single-storey stone dwelling had become.
Overlooking Booby’s Bay near St Merryn in the Seven Bays area of Cornwall near Padstow, the two-room building, now owned by the National Trust, dates from the early 1800s and was once the home of the notorious smuggler, his wife Elizabeth, and their children William, James, and Fanny.
He was described in books and newspapers many years after his death as “the worst character in the parish”. There are tales of him shooting any poor sailor who made it to shore alive so that he could steal what was in their pockets as well as spurious tales of him luring ships onto the rocks with ‘false lights’.
Although Tom Parsons was a real man he was actually a farmer and it is more likely that rather than a wrecker and a violent criminal, he was someone who just took advantage of what he could pick up from the beach. Besides Parsons was never charged with any crime especially not for using the so-called false lights.
But like many suffering from hardship, he would no doubt have helped himself to any cargo or timber washing ashore from wrecked ships after a storm.
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First restored a century ago, the cottage fell into disrepair. Oliver Davison, principal building surveyor at Trident Building Consultancy’s Bristol office, who led the restoration work on behalf of the National Trust, said external works, including redecorating the windows, repairs to the slate roof, and repairs to some external walls.
However, it was the internal work that created the biggest challenges, particularly around modernising such a small space.
He said: “Our brief from the National Trust included fitting a modern, luxury kitchen into a very small space while still allowing for people to cook, eat, and move around. The WC also needed modernising, which meant replacing the old units with new, again trying to realise enough space for people to be comfortable.
“Achieving this was a major challenge as the standard required for a National Trust Acorn 5 rating is very high, but with a lot of detailed and creative design, problem-solving, and some innovative installations, we got there. Now it is a fantastic, luxury holiday let with what has to be one of the most spectacular views in Cornwall.”
The property, which can only accommodate two people and up to two dogs, will set you back between £850 and £950 for a three-day stay.
A spokesperson for the National Trust said: “It’s been a really tricky project on a couple of levels, not just from the level of complexity added by the Site of Special Scientific Interest, archaeology and unexpected finds, but also supporting the contractor to keep the delivery on time.
“Trident Building Consultancy has supported us throughout with their knowledge and skills, and we are thrilled with the finished product which looks amazing.”
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