In this episode we delve into the murky world of wool smuggling! We meet some interesting characters and discover just some of the tales and legends they created. It is amazing to think of wool as such a valuable commodity that its trade was protected and limited, and contraband wool bales clandestinely shipped to other countries!

(You can also watch the video version of this episode on the Fiberygoodness YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/-gRgl48AqAk   )

If you are interested in following up these stories with some more reading, here are some great links to get you started:

Rattenbury wrote a complete dairy which became his memoirs (published 1837) can be read here: https://archive.org/details/memoirsasmuggle00rattgoog/page/n2/mode/1up

Wadhurst History Society — Wadhurst History Society | The History of Smuggling in Sussex and Kent
wadhursthistorysociety.org

Mysterious Britain — Brede Place – Mysterious Britain & Ireland mysteriousbritain.co.uk

Clare Flynn — Smugglers of Sussex | Clare Flynn
clareflynn.co.uk