1
Copyright-free feature.
Smuggling - around Eyemouth and beyond.
In the 18th century, smuggling was rife on many parts of Scotland's coastline, no more so than around Eyemouth. This port near the border with England has many little coves and deserted stretches of dramatic coastal scenery – in those days they made ideal cover for smugglers!
After the union with England in 1707, Scotland had to the English customs and excise regime. Certain goods in Scotland - such as brandy- were taxed at a rate of seven times their pre-Union level. Many Scots soon justified ‘free-trading’ (i.e. smuggling) almost as a patriotic duty! Both the Jacobite faction in the politics of the time and even the Church either turned a blind eye to or positively encouraged smuggling activities.
To complicate matters, the 'revenue men' – the body employed by the Government to enforce excise duties – were often under-resourced and unpopular, though the job itself was a secure one. These 'Collectors of Duty' were sometimes even threatened by the merchant-organisers, who had the support of many in their community. However, the Revenue could at least call on the support of the local militia. And not everyone everywhere in Scotland agreed with the principle of smuggling. There were definitely shades of opinion. In addition, the Smugglers Act of 1736 introduced the death penalty for any smuggler wounding or threatening with arms an employee of the Customs and Excise.
What the revenue men were up against.
The odds were therefore often stacked against those representing the government of the day. Besides, a well-resourced smuggler such as John Nisbet of Gunsgreen House in Eyemouth had connections: with other merchants in the trading ports of Europe; with business folk locally who might provide finance; with local farmer-workers and fishermen to form a squad for unloading and dispersing of the illicit cargo; finally, with a good 'client base' – after all, no point in smuggling if you can't find a ready market!
And so, on both sides of the town of Eyemouth, 'free trade' (a euphemism for smuggling) prospered for a century.
What the records tell us...
More.../
South-East of Gunsgreen House...
There are comprehensive records of the smuggling days around this part of the Berwickshire coast.
For example, we know that John Nisbet's men were up to something underhand in 1773 – three of them were caught just behind the house with brandy and madeira 'part lying on the beach and part carrying off on the Haugh at Gunsgreen’. Nisbet's ship the Molly was also known to lie offshore here with contraband.
Walk from Gunsgreen House by the cliff path – the real Smugglers' Trail that goes eastwards towards Burnmouth – and quite soon there are views of this half-hidden little fishing community tucked below the craggy coastline. The Ross Shore is the stretch of coast immediately beyond the last houses – and very much a smuggling rendezvous of old. For example, the Excise records record the seizing of a cargo here from schooner Jean of Eyemouth in 1774.
More details here http://www.gunsgreenhouse.org/eyemouth-to-burnmouth.html
North-West of Gunsgreen House...
The Smugglers' Trail runs along the coast towards St Abbs from Eyemouth, passing by the Linkim Shore, where ships used to wait for the tide before entering Eyemouth Harbour. Some ships, mostly those not wanting to bring too much attention to themselves, waited a little further on: in the bay by today's St Abbs. Walk the Trail hereabouts to view the many little bays and coves where, at dead of night, a small boat could easily row out to a waiting cargo vessel and begin unloading...
Though St Abbs did not exist in its present shape in the hey-day of smuggling, just beyond the village is the farm of Northfield. (Adjacent is the car park for St Abb's Head.) This place, like many of the old farms in the neighbourhood, was strongly associated with smuggling activities. In 1780 a certain Charles Swanston of Northfield was one of the ringleaders who actually raided Eyemouth Customs warehouse in 1780 – just one of the tales of derring-do associated with this coast.
Further on, beyond the seabird colonies at St Abb's Head, the coast is even wilder and – not surprisingly – featured in these smuggling stories. The coastal path gives a high-level view of the Lumsdaine Shore and you can still faintly trace a zigzag path that traverses the grassy cliff from top to shoreline. (It's also visible from Pettico Wick, the small bay just west of St Abbs Head.) And if you were wondering why such a perilous path had been created – then buy a copy of the reprinted Victorian novel Eustace The Outcast at the Gunsgreen House shop. It contains a vivid description of a clandestine cargo being transported up the cliff by horses.
More....
Then there is the nearby Dowlaw Shore – hardly visited today but in 1783 the Customs men seized contraband here, including tea, nankeens (Chinese cottons) and silks. They were threatened by ‘bystanders’ - presumably locals sympathetic or working with the smuggling team. Consequently, the Customs men had to request that a company of soldiers be sent to guard the Custom House in Dunbar. Who would have thought that such an out-of-the-way location would have ever known drama like that?
More details on this part of the trail here:
· http://www.gunsgreenhouse.org/eyemouth-to-st-abbs-head.html
· http://www.gunsgreenhouse.org/st-abbs-head-to-cove.html
Today's Smugglers' Trail
The 'Smugglers' Palace' that we know today as Gunsgreen House is also the gateway to exploring the Smugglers Trail, from Burnmouth to Cove, part of the Berwickshire Coastal Path. East or west from the House, walkers can follow a well-marked footpath with information boards (to be in place during the 2015 season) that point out the locations of some of the main smuggling incidents.
Combine a trip to Gunsgreen House with experiencing the wild shores of the Berwickshire coast for a real smugglers' experience.
http://www.gunsgreenhouse.org/smugglers-trail.html
Need to know:
Gunsgreen House is closed from 1st November 2015 - 29th March 2016 – but during this we are happy to accommodate group tours and school visits - please get in touch with us to discuss.
We are open 30th March 2015 - 1st November 2016 - every day 11am - 5pm (last admissions 4pm.) Please note that occasionally we may close the attraction for weddings- these dates will be posted online well in advance however if you are travelling a distance to visit us we advise that you call ahead to check opening times.
Address: Gunsgreen House, Gunsgreen Quay
Eyemouth, East Berwickshire
TD14 5SD / Tel: 01890 752 062
Email:
Manager: Mr Tony Bolton
END
Images, press visits & further info available – please contact Johanna Campbell – Tel: 07909 113780
/ www.scotlandtourismsolutions.com
This feature has been written by Gilbert Summers – Tel: 07551 661093 / 01542 835471 email: