Smuggling & Smugglers in Sussex

In the mid‑eighteenth‑century south‑coast of England, a brutal clash between law‑enforcers and a band of ruthless smugglers unfolds. The narrative opens with the chilling murders of a customs officer and a local shoemaker at the hands of fourteen notorious men, followed by the dramatic capture, trial, and public execution of several of the culprits in Chichester. Vivid illustrations accompany the account, giving listeners a stark glimpse of the violence that shocked an entire community.

The author, having spoken directly with witnesses and even the condemned, presents the story as a rigorously documented record. Contemporary sermons, court speeches, and a scholarly essay on Sussex smuggling are woven in, underscoring the moral urgency of the tale. While the work does not shy away from the gruesome details, it also serves as a stark reminder of the era’s harsh justice and the desperate fight against a thriving illegal trade. Listeners will be drawn into a gripping slice of history that reveals both the human cost of crime and the relentless pursuit of law in a turbulent age.