Smuggling

The Sussex Coast has a long and distinguished history of smuggling. Sweeping coastlines, marshland and challenging terrain from Seaford to Beachy Head afforded smugglers the perfect opportunity to move contraband, often unimpeded by the authorities.

Coastguard Cottages at Night by Chris Cook

The earliest recorded occurrence of smuggling involved the illegal export of wool, known as Owling, in the 13^th century. Legislation to protect the cloth industry in England was introduced and in the 17^th century, sheep farmers living within 10 miles of the coast had three days from shearing their sheep to account for the wool. Similarly, it was illegal for anyone living within 15 miles of the coast to buy wool.

Smuggling at Night by David Taylor, courtesy of Kevin Gordon

Smuggling activity peaked as a consequence of European and global conflicts, creating an uptake in both supply and demand. The import of French brandy was illegal during the years of war with France and so the demand for smuggled brandy increased. In an attempt to lessen the popularity of the spirit, the 17^th century saw a push towards gin. Gin, or Geneva as it was known, came from Holland and was subject to few regulations and no duty. Lawlessness resulted in new government legislation on gin, which created a surge in smuggling in the mid 1700s. Around 1780, it is estimated that well over half of all smuggled gin was landed in Sussex- over 1,000,000 gallons in three years- whereas only 14% of smuggled brandy came in through Kent and Sussex. In true Great British culture, people in England were drinking more than three times as much smuggled tea as that legally imported, until legislation drastically cut the duty on tea in 1745.

Image courtesy of the Towner Gallery

The beach at Cuckmere Haven was an ideal landing place and records show that in the 18^th and 19^th centuries, it was a popular landing spot for smugglers. From 1817 however, the Coastal Blockade and the Coastguards set out to disrupt the smuggling trade. Following the defeat of Napoleon and his troops, thousands of sailors returned home with few prospects at employment. Some turned to smuggling but a proposal was put forward that would harness the skills that sailors had in the fight against smuggling. Men were based at the now-redundant Martello Towers or in Watch Towers and would patrol nightly. In 1821, a national Coast Guard was created and patrolled the areas not covered by the Coastal Blockade.

Image courtesy of the Towner Gallery

Although many individuals were involved in smuggling, the 18th century saw a spike in organised smuggling gangs. Often, gangs of 200-300 men would descend on Cuckmere Haven and surrounds to move contraband. Indeed, in 1822 it was reported that a large body of smugglers came to Seaford and succeeded at landing 300 tubs of foreign spirits, losing 50 tubs to customs officers, whilst another boat carrying tea, silks, tobacco and the like landed a short distance away. The authorities were focused on the shipment of spirits and so the second boat successfully landed all their cargo unnoticed.  

Smugglers by Lyndsey Smith