During the 18th century, smuggling and illegal trading in Britain were rife thanks to the taxes imposed by the governments at the time. This was particularly popular in and around coastal areas since the country’s ports, including Hastings, became hubs for bringing in illegal goods such as clothes, fine jewellery, tobacco and alcohol.
Once the products were brought onto British shores, they would need to be kept well-hidden until they could be distributed. Centuries on, we’re leaving no stone unturned and uncovering the secrets behind how they hid their contraband…
How did smugglers get their contraband?
Before they could even think about hiding it, they needed to plan how they would get their hands on the illegal goods in the first place. So, what was the typical process for bringing back contraband?
Once financing for the smuggling trip was secured, an appointed representative from the group of smugglers would travel with the ship to purchase the required contraband. Sometimes, this responsibility would fall to the ship’s master.
The cargo was usually ready for loading onto the ship when they reached the destination. Whoever was appointed to purchase the goods would then need to strike a bargain with somebody waiting in the port.
Finding transport for a smuggling trip
Finding a suitable vessel to travel and buy or collect contraband was arguably the least difficult part of the entire process at the height of the smuggling era. This is because many of the ports profited from the trade due to the deals that would be made with port workers. Therefore, they were happy to supply the transport if it meant they would earn a little extra.
Some of the most important ports and suppliers in the smuggling trade were based in Calais, Dunkirk, Le Havre and Nantes, all found on France’s northern coastline. These ports were conveniently located for a short and relatively easy crossing with little chance of any issues. The ports at Calais and Boulogne were top choices for supplying Sussex, where Hastings is.
How did smugglers conceal their contraband?
It wasn’t as simple as packing the goods onto a ship and setting sail back to England. Smugglers had to use several crafty methods to hide their contraband and make sure it reached its final destination without anybody knowing it was there.
Packaging items in smaller quantities was one of the most common tactics used. Tobacco, for example, would come in bales that could easily be lifted by one man. Meanwhile, spirits were transferred into tubs (called half ankers) that could hold 4 gallons (around 18 litres). This is where ‘tubmen’ came in, who would then transport the ankers across their shoulders.
Spirits would be transported without being diluted to keep the weight and size of the barrels to a minimum. This meant that they would be over-proof and colourless. To give them colour, French distillers offered to add caramel to the kegs. As long as the alcohol was diluted afterwards, it would be safe for people to drink.
When scrutiny increased, smugglers were forced to become more inventive in concealing their contraband from nosy neighbours and customs visitors. For example, tobacco would be made up into ropes to avoid suspicion, and spirits were concealed in tubs with false bottoms.
Where did smugglers hide their contraband?
Once the goods made it ashore safely, smugglers would often need to hide the goods until they were ready to be sold. Concealing contraband near the coastline was the preferred choice, with caves like the ones at Smugglers Adventure being used for short-term storage.
In some cases, smugglers would tip tubs of spirits into the sea to recover later, using an inflated bladder and feathers at the top to mark the spot and a weighted anchor at the bottom to hold it down. For smugglers without access to tunnels or caves, this method meant they could hide the goods temporarily when customs officers paid them a visit.
Hiding contraband was complicated and dangerous, but the smugglers of this era had clever ways of keeping their operations under wraps. We hope you’ve enjoyed uncovering their hiding spots and how it all worked. To learn more about smuggling in the 18th century, come along and see us at Smugglers Adventure.