Smuggling in Devon and Cornwall 1700-1850. Dieser Artikel ist nicht verfügbar.Smuggling in Devon and Cornwall 1700-1850

This book will transport you back in time to the shadowy underworld of Devon and Cornwall's smuggling trade. 

The rugged coastline of Devon and Cornwall was always a smuggler’s paradise. The high cliffs, hidden coves and secretive villages made it difficult and dangerous for the land-based Revenue Services to patrol effectively. At sea, meanwhile, authorities had to contend with fast, heavily armed craft manned by expert and reckless traders.

Many ships were sunk and lives lost in the struggle, but fortunes were at stake. A smuggler’s cargo could be worth anywhere from £2,000 to £10,000, at a time when a labouring man’s earnings were no more than £20 a year.

This book brings that colourful history to life, taking you back to a time when this black economy traded in luxuries including lace, silks, tea and spirits. At one stage, half of all the brandy being smuggled into England and Wales came in along the coasts of Devon and Cornwall.

It’s funny to think that today’s quaint fishing villages and holiday beaches were once the backdrop for conspiracy, intimidation and murder.

One such site is Prussia Cove, stronghold of the infamous Carter family, where eight six-pounder guns protected a cache of huge quantities of brandy, gin and rum. The men who organised the smuggling were well known and largely condoned by the local communities, who stood to gain from their activities. Lawful pursuits such as fishing provided cover and offered secure hiding places, like the fish cellars in Mevagissey and mine workings in St Just. 

Mary Waugh describes the smuggling industry in detail along each section of the coast, explaining the methods used and introducing the characters involved.

For those wishing to follow the various smuggling tracks for themselves there are suggestions for places to visit after each chapter.