Yorkshire inn where fire burned for 200 years is left an empty shell after money runs out for hotel project

FOR more than 200 years the Legendary Saltersgate Inn has stood on the North York Moors – its enduring story about the fire that must never go out a poignant reminder of Yorkshire’s smuggling past.

The fire was to be kept lit summer and winter, day and night. Otherwise a ghost – some say the Devil himself – would rise and bring terror to the new owners.

But not only is the fire out but the pub has been left an empty shell after a scheme to refurbish it into a nine-bedroom hotel and gastropub was halted half-way through because of cash problems.

And there is little national park chiefs can do. Head of planning Val Dilcock explained: “We are aware work has stopped and have been keeping an eye on it.

“But there are quite a lot of sites where work has stopped because of the recession and we have been urged by the Government not to come down too hard on developers.

“We will continue to monitor it. We can’t force them to finish. But we can make them keep the site reasonably tidy.”

The history of the pub overlooking the Hole of Horcum, also known as the Devil’s Punchbowl, is steeped in ancient myth and smuggling legend.

According to folklore the Devil turned up at the pub in disguise but was flung into the fire by locals, who feared if the flames ever went out he would return. In another version, an Excise man was murdered by some smugglers he was trying to arrest.

They buried his body under the fireplace – and the landlord, frightened he would also be hanged, invented the story of the fire to cover up the crime.

In more recent years the award-winning pub was loved as much for its good ale as its creepy ambience. But various owners complained its isolated position made it hard to make a living, however many barrels of Theakston’s they went through..

In 2007, consent was refused to turn it into 13 holiday flats after howls of protest about the loss of the pub. The property changed hands again and in 2008 a scheme for an improved bar and restaurant, with nine hotel bedrooms was approved.

Architect Simon Bennett, of Pickering-based firm Escape, said: “When my client bought the pub two years ago it had been left empty. All the ceilings had collapsed. It was derelict.

“It was very close to falling down when he bought it. It was only the scaffolding holding it up. It was being destroyed. The pipes had burst, and there was a water feature running through the pub.

“He invested a considerable sum of money to shore up the building.”

Then a scheme had to be designed that would meet planning and building regulations.

He said: “It is not a listed building. But it was such an historical building and held in such high regard it was considered that anything other than a hotel and pub would be turned down and the existing frontage had to remain.

“The end result would have been a great venue for weddings and shooting parties. Unfortunately, work has stopped on site. I was told it was for financial reasons.”

The building was being made watertight inside, so the fabric would be maintained.

But Scarborough and Whitby Tory MP Robert Goodwill said: “"It is very sad to see such an iconic hostelry in the sorry state it is in. Let’s hope someone comes in to rescue the building and bring it back to its former glory."

Author Roger Osborne, who objected to the flats scheme, said it would be wonderful if someone could save the project.

He added: “My feeling always was it was a shame to lose such an historic pub. Just because it was in an isolated position did not mean it couldn’t work as a pub.

“It is on an historic route and a building which is very historically significant.”