Smuggling and the Shaping of the Cornish Cultural Landscape

During the 18th and early 19th centuries, smuggling in Cornwall was at its peak. Stories of this secretive, illicit trade have been told and re-told over generations. Cornish smugglers have been imagined as small bands of "rogues" landing small amounts of contraband tobacco or spirits into remote, moonlit coves. Other depictions show them as violent, dangerous gangs involved not only in smuggling but also in wrecking ships. Smuggling tales often include romantic or supernatural elements, distancing them further from the historical record.

This talk will examine the relationship between literary and historical narratives of Cornish smuggling, and how the "Maritime Gothic" of smuggling has shaped modern perceptions of place and identity in Cornwall.

Dr Jo Esra is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Exeter, specialising in 16th and 17th-century maritime literature and culture.

This lecture is taking place in person and online.

For more information about the in-person event visit the National Maritime Museum Cornwall website here.