For over three centuries, the village was a centre for Dorset smugglers who carried their contraband goods from the coast to Bath and Bristol. In 1802, a fire burned down 12 houses in the village and one man managed to escape and run to the Crown. George Walbeg was a previous customer but as he had been bedridden for nine years no one recognised him. Sadly he died in the Crown from severe burns suffered in the fire and is now the resident ghost. When he manifests, it is with a pallid face and with what seem to be scorch marks on a long white nightshirt.