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Originally written by David Whenham for his family history website, in 1998 – unfortunately, his website no longer exits. Prologue It was a clear moonlight night with a fresh early January breeze drifting inland from the Sussex coast. The crisp white sails of the lugger shimmered ghost-like as the white boat silently drifted in under […]

Brief Notes On The Cinque Ports by Don Phillips  (Bexhill Museum – 1995) The Confederation of the Cinque Ports has influenced the history of the south-east coast of Sussex and the south and east coasts of Kent for centuries. No one is entirely sure of the inception of the confederation but it is significant that […]

1695 – Thomas Carman of Fairlight and Thomas Harwood of Guestling while returning home from Lewes were passing through the village of Bulverhythe when they noticed a french ship anchored off shore. Their curiosity aroused, they kept watch at a safe distance. After dark a boat came ashore to be met by five men some of […]

A manuscript ledger, in the possession of Mr Pocock of Hooe (butcher in Old Town), covers the period 1784-1800 and almost certainly makes reference to smuggled goods. Reference include 1784, 1796 & 1800. The following are extracts from that ledger. Bexhill family smuggling British newspapers to Napoleon. Smuggling goods were Brandy, Gin, Tobacco, Tea and […]

Smuggling has been going on for centuries and will probably continue for as long as import duties exist. It was a regular trade in Sussex when the Normans invaded but it became more organised when the wool tax was levied in the 13th Century. The free export of wool was forbidden and for the next […]

RUXLEY’S CREW OF HASTINGS Ruxley’s Crew were a gang of “chopbacks” in Hastings. They would pirate• ships in the channel and chop the ship’s crew down the back bone. They were indicted on 30th October, 1769 for piracy and murder on the high seas. This gang hailed a Dutch hoy off the Hastings coast on […]

by Don Phillips Smuggling became a major occupation in Sussex, especially in the 18th century when cargoes of illicit goods were sponsored by high ranking merchants and the aristocracy. It was also a period of great hardship for the Sussex labourer, for whom a few hours hard work at night earned more than a full […]