Smuggling in the British Isles A History

OK, it's not a paranormal book but----it seems that quite a few ghost stories were invented by smugglers to discourage nosey people from getting too near their hidden spoils. Telling tales of "old Shuck" roaming at night would have terrified the superstitious villagers and to make sure they stayed away when there was a "run" a lantern was tied around the neck of a black ram who was then let loose!
This book changed my whole concept of smuggling! It was big business with many people involved-sometimes a whole village would be involved, all investing what they could afford in the run. As many as 150 men and 300 horses could be unloading the ship. The local priest and the customs officer were quite likely to be involved too!

Hollyrose if you go to Weymouth and take part in the Timewalk at Brewer's Quay, they mention the smuggling and a few of their tricks.

It does make you wonder how many ghost stories are true or how many were just made up to keep nosey people away etc. I know they used to tie lanterns to cows tails as well as when the cows moved around etc from the sea it looked like the lights from houses etc. One story of smuggling and ghosts which is true is the story of Chambercombe Manor in Illfracombe which I went to visit its a fab place and very spooky.

What I never realised either was the fact that wool was smuggled out of England probably early as 1275 when a tax of £3 per bag was introduced.
I was surprised to see that Mablethorpe in Lincolnshire was a smuggling area as I thought it was too open but they used the dunes to bury stuff. Early in the 20th century a partly decayed barrel was unearthed there. Somebody had either been unable to return for it or had not taken accurate bearings on the hiding place!

I did not know that about the wool. Makes you wonder what else could still be burried around and about our beeches etc

It wouldn't surprise me to find stuff had been smuggled over the border to Scotland in those days.
Despite what the English people thought, Scotland did have a thriving trade links with France, Holland or should I say the Low Countries at this time.