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Smuggling
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Smuggling is known to have existed in the Rye area since the 13th Century, when Edward I introduced the Customs system. The earliest references to smuggling are a warrant in 1301 to search for wool, hides, bales and all other merchandise and persons attempting to export money or silver. In 1357 an Admiralty inquest was held at Rye before the deputy Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports to collect evidence against Simon Portier and several other men for exporting uncustomed wool from the port of Pevensey.
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From the late 1550’s smuggling became much more worthwhile with the introduction of a revised customs tariff and a new series of impositions. Further restrictions on trade, by Customs and also Excise Duties, introduced in the 17th century made many common utilities such as candles and beer very expensive.
By the end of the 17th century social conditions encouraged the expansion of smuggling into a widespread occupation affecting many of the residents of Kent and Sussex. Living conditions became harder, unemployment increased and smuggling offered an alternative to poverty.
Many smugglers wore a bee-skep, in which eye and mouth-holes had been cut. Such a disguise was an offence, so much so that anyone having his face blackened, masked or otherwise disguised when smuggling contraband goods could be adjudged of felony and sentenced to death.
| Restrictions on the export of English wool, first in 1614 and subsequently increased by the late 17th century, imposed to protect the cloth industry had made wool smuggling into a major trade. This was known locally as the ’Owling’ trade. The coastal areas around Rye where the wool was produced were so near to France that even the threat of death was no great deterrent. |
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The Owling trade expanded into the import of luxury goods from the Continent. Silks, tea, tobacco and brandy were profitable items to bring in to evade the heavy duties imposed by the Government.
Smugglers became large, highly organised and heavily armed groups, based either in convenient landing places on the coast, like Rye, Hastings, Pevensey and Bexhill or strategically placed villages on the roads to London and the interior, like Brede and Bamber. Long before the end of the 17th century import smuggling was so great that the Government was in danger of losing control of the situation.
