Tales from the East Kent Coast
When you stay at Hawthorn Farm, you aren’t just visiting a quiet corner of the Garden of England; you’re stepping into a landscape shaped by centuries of high-seas drama and clandestine behaviours.
While our cottages today offer a peaceful sanctuary, the winding lanes and rugged coastline nearby once hummed with the whispers of "the free traders." If these flint walls could talk, they’d have some incredible stories to tell!
The "Gentlemen of the Night"
In the 18th century, East Kent was the smuggling capital of Britain. Because of our proximity to France, high taxes on tea, brandy, and lace turned honest fishermen and farmers into "The Gentlemen."
- The Deal Luggers: Just a short drive from the farm, the town of Deal was famous for its "luggers" - sturdy boats designed to navigate the treacherous Goodwin Sands. Locals were experts at outrunning the Revenue men under the cover of a sea fret.
- Hidden Architecture: If you head into Sandwich or Deal today, keep an eye out for unusually large cellars or strange cupboards in older pubs. Many were designed specifically to hide casks of cognac.
- Broadstairs & Joss Snelling: In 1769, Joss and his gang were ambushed by the Revenue men in a bloody skirmish at what is now the stunning Botany Bay. Despite the drama, Joss lived to 96 and was even introduced to a young Princess Victoria as "The Famous Smuggler."
- Ramsgate’s Darker Secrets: The chalk cliffs at Pegwell Bay are honeycombed with smuggling leads. Look for the legendary "Smuggler’s Leap" between Ramsgate and Sarre—where ghosts of a high-speed chase in the fog are said to linger.
- Walmer’s "Plain Sight" Smuggling: While the Duke of Wellington lived at Walmer Castle securing the borders, locals were whisking contraband through narrow Georgian terraces or stashing it in the graveyard of Old St. Mary’s Church.
Saints and Pilgrims
It wasn’t all midnight escapes and contraband. Our part of Kent has a "holier" side, too!
- St. Augustine’s Path: In AD 597, St. Augustine landed at Ebbsfleet (just north of Deal) to bring Christianity back to England.
- The Way to Canterbury: Many pilgrims would have passed through the villages surrounding Hawthorn Farm on their way to the shrine of Thomas Becket.
- The "Canterbury Tales": Chaucer’s famous stories captured the real behaviours and spirits of the people who once trod the very lanes near our farm.
The Holy City: Canterbury's Golden Legacy
- The Martyr’s Flame: In the Cathedral, a single candle burns where Becket’s gold-encrusted shrine once stood.
- St. Martin’s Church: A true hidden gem - it is the oldest church in the English-speaking world still in use.
- St. Augustine’s Abbey: Atmospheric ruins where the early Kings of Kent were buried.
- The Greyfriars Chapel: A tiny, 13th-century chapel built right over the River Stour.
Our Tip: If you’re visiting Canterbury, try a "river tour" on a traditional rowing boat. You’ll float right under the medieval bridges and see the city from the same perspective the pilgrims did as they arrived by water.
Local Legends to Look For
As you explore, keep your eyes peeled for these "secret" spots:
- The Goodwin Sands: The "Great Ship Swallower." On a very low tide, you can sometimes see the ribs of old wrecks.
- Botany Bay Caves: Perfect for a walk at low tide to see where Joss Snelling stored his "tea and tubs."
- The Ramsgate Tunnels: A vast underground network dating back to the "Free Traders."
- The Lifeboat House, Walmer: A reminder that many who smuggled by night rescued sailors by day.
- The Smuggling Museum: Located in the cellars at Bleak House, Broadstairs. Many of the exhibits were rescued by divers to an eighteenth century wreck that was exposed when sands shifted in Viking Bay in the early 1970's. The sands rapidly re-covered the wreck and the ship hasn't been seen since.
Our Tip for Atmosphere: Head to the coast at dusk when the mist rolls in over the Channel. It’s easy to imagine a signal fire being lit on the cliffs to warn the luggers away from the Revenue cutters!
Ready to find your perfect Kentish escape?
If you're seeking a stay away from home that combines comfort, character, flexibility, and the chance to truly experience the beauty and history of East Kent, then a holiday cottage is undoubtedly the perfect choice for you!
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