Preventative Men helped uncover contraband
Last week I explained how the Customs Men based at Seaford were often in conflict with the troops stationed at the two batteries.
The French had declared war on England on 1st February 1793 and for the next decade Seaford became a garrison town, with soldiers from around the country having to face the rough weather of the coast, often staying under canvas.
The following year, the Bailiff (Mayor) established the 'Seaford Volunteers' – the Home Guard of the day. Initially they had no uniforms and were only identified by a cockade worn in their hats.
In autumn 1794, the Seaford Signal Station was erected on top of Seaford Head. This was one of a series of buildings which not only allowed messages to be quickly sent along the coast but could also communicate with London.
1795 was the year of the Seaford Mutiny, which I have written about in earlier items, and also when the New Inn (now the Wellington) got a licence to sell ale. The pub was established to cater for the large amount of military men in the town at that time.
Surprisingly, despite the military presence, the better communications and the fact that many adult men in the town were members of the volunteer force, smuggling continued – even though the country was at war with their suppliers.
In 1798 and 1799 two large shipments of contraband were seized by the customs men. The men were kept busy as there were also frequent incursions by the French who often sailed right into Seaford Bay, even after the Martello Tower was constructed in 1807.
Wellington's victory at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 meant that the coastal defences were not as important and the last troops to be stationed at Blatchington Barracks (the West Riding of Yorkshire Regiment) left in July 1816.
The buildings were taken over by the 'Preventative Men' who in 1820 managed to discover a clever method of hiding contraband. A ship called 'The Rose' from Rye was anchored in Seaford Bay and was boarded by the Customs men. All appeared to be in order, but as the Captain (a Mr Padgen) was being questioned a number of barrels were found slung underneath the ship in an effort to conceal them. In all twelve tubs of spirit and nine tubs of brandy were recovered.
On 23rd February 1822, Thomas Rippington, Mr Allwork, Captain Allen and Mr P. Welland of the 10th Hussars (probably based at the Seaford Battery), were on night patrol when they saw smugglers near Seaford Head who dispersed as they approached. At 4am they heard a gun-shot – surely a signal – towards the Tide Mill and caught some Seaford boatmen in possession of contraband.
A year later on 22nd January, Mr Aldrich, the Chief Officer of the Coast Guard Station, tracked some smugglers from Seaford Head to Litlington, where twelve casks of spirits were found hidden in a garden. When he tried to seize them he was set upon by men with bludgeons and stones.
It was probable that this attack was led by the notorious Alfriston smuggler Stanton Collins who lived in the building which is now the Smugglers Inn, close to the Market Cross. He was a vicious man who would threaten local villagers with violence and arson if they failed to assist his nefarious operations.
In 1822 the Sussex Weekly Advertiser announced that smuggling was on the increase particularly between Seaford Head and the Tide Mills. This means that the smugglers were operating right under the noses of the preventative men who had bases on Seaford Head, at the Martello Tower, Seaford Battery and at the former Blatchington Battery.
The smugglers also resorted to bribery. In September 1825 a seaman from Crowlink was approached by two Hailsham publicans. They offered him 20 sovereigns to land an illicit cargo at Cuckmere Haven and a few months later an Irish customs man stationed at Hope Gap was offered a 50, a new suit of clothes and a horse and cart to leave the area so that smugglers could land their cargo under Seaford Head.
On both occasions the bribe was accepted but the smugglers were betrayed and the imports were intercepted.
The Preventative Men tried to keep up with the game by using steamers from 1835, but in 1845 Sir Robert Peel removed the duties on many items making it no longer worth a dangerous run to France to import them.
Smuggling of course continues but not to the extent that it did in the past.
Once again my thanks goes to David Taylor for illustrating this article.
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Weather for Lewes
Saturday 26 May 2012
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Temperature: 13 C to 23 C
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