Heritage - Smuggling

In the 18th and 19th centuries smuggling was an extremely lucrative business for Guernsey because of ancient privileges bestowed on the island by King John and Henry III. Islanders were able to buy goods freely from Europe and the USA and then sell them to English smugglers.

Many of the smugglers were Cornish and came to the islands to pick up their contraband in specially designed fast boats. A number of local families earned fortunes during this period until eventually profits dwindled due to the growing success of the revenue men and the difficulty of disposing of the contraband once it had reached England.