The Folly Inn
Situated on the banks of the River Medina about half way between Cowes and Newport is the Folly Inn near Whippingham.
It is said the Folly originated around 1783 as an old 60ft smugglers barge which was moored at the side of the river and was used to sell liquor to passing sailors! In 1792 the barge was apparently washed up on the beach here after it broke from it’s moorings.
Captain Thomas Burnett who owned several trading craft and had the rights to several oyster beds on the river, decided to build an inn over the remains of the vessel as a half way house along the Medina where barges would wait at Folly reach between tides and the bargemen could partake in refreshment at the remote inn which did a roaring trade from it's 'captive' customers!
From about 1910 people would row up river from East Cowes to the Folly on a Sunday for a ‘boiled egg tea’ mmm! At that time the landlord was Bob Savage who had served in the Royal Navy where he had been a heavyweight boxing champion. Bob particularly had a good relationship with the local youth of the day and he taught some of them to box. One such boy was Uffa Fox who became a famous sailor and boatbulider. Bob also taught the children from Whippingham school to swim here.
The Folly's customers have always mainly been sailors and today's patrons are no exception as it is not unknown to have 50 to 60 boats using the pub's moorings during a summer weekend. The Folly provides good facilities for the crews such as a water taxi service to and from their boats and showers. Good food is always available and the rustic wooden interior gives that traditional maritime atmosphere. The Folly features in our DVD; 'An Island Pub Tour, The Thirst Round' in which Marc tells the full history of the Inn and it's connections with Uffa Fox.
It is said the Folly originated around 1783 as an old 60ft smugglers barge which was moored at the side of the river and was used to sell liquor to passing sailors! In 1792 the barge was apparently washed up on the beach here after it broke from it’s moorings.
Captain Thomas Burnett who owned several trading craft and had the rights to several oyster beds on the river, decided to build an inn over the remains of the vessel as a half way house along the Medina where barges would wait at Folly reach between tides and the bargemen could partake in refreshment at the remote inn which did a roaring trade from it's 'captive' customers!
From about 1910 people would row up river from East Cowes to the Folly on a Sunday for a ‘boiled egg tea’ mmm! At that time the landlord was Bob Savage who had served in the Royal Navy where he had been a heavyweight boxing champion. Bob particularly had a good relationship with the local youth of the day and he taught some of them to box. One such boy was Uffa Fox who became a famous sailor and boatbulider. Bob also taught the children from Whippingham school to swim here.
The Folly's customers have always mainly been sailors and today's patrons are no exception as it is not unknown to have 50 to 60 boats using the pub's moorings during a summer weekend. The Folly provides good facilities for the crews such as a water taxi service to and from their boats and showers. Good food is always available and the rustic wooden interior gives that traditional maritime atmosphere. The Folly features in our DVD; 'An Island Pub Tour, The Thirst Round' in which Marc tells the full history of the Inn and it's connections with Uffa Fox.
