Smuggling and wrecking were popular pastimes in Cornwall, especially in the 18th century when they reached their peak. Many people sought to enhance their lives by collecting goodies from wrecks, or indulging in a spot of smuggling.
Perranporth on the north side of the Cornish coastline had a syndicate of smugglers, including men of the cloth, and The Dolphin in Penzance was a meeting place for smugglers.
The Ship Inn in Porthleven was once a smuggling inn. It is thought that it had secret passages, but none have been found. There are also tunnels leading from caves on the west side of the harbour to Methleigh Manor, where there was once a contraband store. Unfortunately, the tunnels are now blocked.
Tunnels are also to be found at Gunwalloe Cove, where they once led from a cave to the church. Allegedly, coins from shipwrecks can still be found underneath the sand of this beach.
Further along the coast at Fishing Cove, the Halzephron Inn was once connected to the beach via a tunnel. In fact, nearly all of the coves along this stretch of the coastline were somehow involved in the smuggling trade.
Further around at Gweek, boats would come up the estuary to land their smuggled goods. This was true of the Helford River as well.
Falmouth and Penryn have caves, which saw smuggled goods. Wells beach on the south side of the creek is supposed to have caves with tunnels, that are now blocked.
Mevagissey and St. Austell were famous for smuggling, and Jamaica Inn near Bodmin was also notorious for its unlawful dealings (made famous by Daphne du Maurier).
Almost all of the coastal towns and villages lying on the Cornish coast has some kind of connection with smuggling. Ordinary folk and clergymen alike all dabbled in a spot of contraband smuggling. Unfortunately, most of the caves and secret passages used for this pastime have long since been blocked, but the legacy of Cornish smugglers lives on as part of the county's heritage.
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