How to get here -TN18 4EYFrom the A21 at Flimwell, or from the A28,via Tenterden, take the A268 to Hawkhurst;

By train to Etchingham or Staplehurstfollowed by bus to Hawkhurst.

For train times visit: www.nationalrail.co.uk For bus information visit

ww.travelline.org.uk or call 0871 200 22 33. National Express, daily service between

London and Flimwell or Hurst Green, visitwww.nationalexpress.com.

www.visithawkhurst.org.uk

Further InformationFor accommodation, current events andfurther information on the village and

surrounding attractions go to:www.visithawkhurst.org.uk

For more on the wider area please visit:www.visitkent.co.uk

www.1066country.com

© 2011 The Hawkhurst Community Partnership ("HCP"). Whilst every effort has been made toensure accuracy in the production of this information, no liability for any error, omission or

inaccuracy can be accepted. Inclusion of any business or organisation does not imply itsendorsement by HCP.

Supported and funded by

Nearly 300years ago, stories about theHawkhurst Gang were oneverybody’s lips, not just inthe Wealden village wherethis notorious band ofsmugglers based theirlucrative business, butacross the south-east,stretching from Deal inKent to Poole in Dorset.

A hard core of Gang leaders ran what appears to havebeen a village-wide ‘cottage industry’ with much of therural population taking part in the larger free-tradingoperations.

Smugglers hatched their plans for smuggling of tea,brandy, rum and coffee from France and the ChannelIslands in the local pubs still running today, fromHastings to Hawkhurst, Rye to Goudhurst.

Eventually, Hawkhurst Gang leader Arthur Gray wascaptured, tried at the Old Bailey for smuggling at

Lydd and executed in 1748.Thomas Kingsmill fromGoudhurst assumed leadership,though the Gang’s influence wasreduced after its defeat by theGoudhurst Band of Militia inApril 1747.

www.visithawkhurst.org.uk

Your Guide toHawkhurst

and Smuggling inKent & Sussex

The Hawkhurst Gang

Welcome to Hawkhurst, home of the Hawkhurst Gang,where most villagers in the 18th Century used tomoonlight with Freetraders for a better living. In thosedays, smuggling was an approved trade, even if a littlerisky!

More recently, the Rootes Motor Car and OXO empireswere started in this ancient Wealden village.

Set on the Kent Sussex border, within the inspiringlandscape of the High Weald, Hawkhurst is within easyreach of sandy beaches, rugged coastlines and historicaltowns like Rye, Tunbridge Wells, Battle and Hastings.

Hawkhurst is home to “Kino”, the U.K.’s first all-digitalcinema, fabulous country pubs, fishing, horse-riding,cycling and rambling; along with excellent countrysideattractions including Bedgebury National Pinetum,Bewl Water Reservoir and world-famous castles, housesand gardens which have inspired the likes of JaneAusten, Charles Dickens, Rudyard Kipling and SirArthur Conan Doyle.

Come and discover Hawkhurst,“The Crossroads of the Weald”.

Welcome to HawkhurstHawkhurst Heritage Trail

14

36

87

9

10

11

12

13

14

Hawkhurst, today, consists oftwo districts: The Moor withits beautiful Parish Churchand village green, andHighgate with its villageshops centred on theattractive, almost twohundred year old, Colonnade.

Follow the blue plaquesof the HawkhurstHeritage Trail (justunder six miles), todiscover some more ofour history.

1 - Library2 & 3 - Dunk’s Hall4 - Victoria Hall5 - Colonnade6 - Infant School7 - Private Lunatic Asylum8 - William Rootes9 - Railway Station10 - Collingwood House11 - The Laundry12 - Moor School13 - Gas Works14 - Cottage Hospital

Originally published in 2009 as a full-sized map,this may now be downloaded from our website:www.visithawkhurst.org.uk

8William Rootes

2 5

Image ©John Hunt

Image ©John Hunt

Image ©John Hunt

Image ©Britainonview

Image ©Britainonview

Imag

e ©

C.P

arke

r

www.visithawkhurst.org.uk

Please see over for Smugglers Trail

4‘Kino’ Cinema (Victoria Hall)

Image ©John Hunt St. Laurence Church, The Moor

How to get here -TN18 4EYFrom the A21 at Flimwell, or from the A28,via Tenterden, take the A268 to Hawkhurst;

By train to Etchingham or Staplehurstfollowed by bus to Hawkhurst.

For train times visit: www.nationalrail.co.uk For bus information visit

ww.travelline.org.uk or call 0871 200 22 33. National Express, daily service between

London and Flimwell or Hurst Green, visitwww.nationalexpress.com.

www.visithawkhurst.org.uk

Further InformationFor accommodation, current events andfurther information on the village and

surrounding attractions go to:www.visithawkhurst.org.uk

For more on the wider area please visit:www.visitkent.co.uk

www.1066country.com

©2011 The Hawkhurst Community Partnership ("HCP"). Whilst every effort has been made toensure accuracy in the production of this information, no liability for any error, omission or

inaccuracy can be accepted. Inclusion of any business or organisation does not imply itsendorsement by HCP.

Supported and funded by

Nearly 300years ago, stories about theHawkhurst Gang were oneverybody’s lips, not just inthe Wealden village wherethis notorious band ofsmugglers based theirlucrative business, butacross the south-east,stretching from Deal inKent to Poole in Dorset.

A hard core of Gang leaders ran what appears to havebeen a village-wide ‘cottage industry’ with much of therural population taking part in the larger free-tradingoperations.

Smugglers hatched their plans for smuggling of tea,brandy, rum and coffee from France and the ChannelIslands in the local pubs still running today, fromHastings to Hawkhurst, Rye to Goudhurst.

Eventually, Hawkhurst Gang leader Arthur Gray wascaptured, tried at the Old Bailey for smuggling at

Lydd and executed in 1748.Thomas Kingsmill fromGoudhurst assumed leadership,though the Gang’s influence wasreduced after its defeat by theGoudhurst Band of Militia inApril 1747.

www.visithawkhurst.org.uk

Your Guide toHawkhurst

and Smuggling inKent & Sussex

TheHawkhurstGang

Welcome to Hawkhurst, home of the Hawkhurst Gang,where most villagers in the 18th Century used tomoonlight with Freetraders for a better living. In thosedays, smuggling was an approved trade, even if a littlerisky!

More recently, the Rootes Motor Car and OXO empireswere started in this ancient Wealden village.

Set on the Kent Sussex border, within the inspiringlandscape of the High Weald, Hawkhurst is within easyreach of sandy beaches, rugged coastlines and historicaltowns like Rye, Tunbridge Wells, Battle and Hastings.

Hawkhurst is home to “Kino”, the U.K.’s first all-digitalcinema, fabulous country pubs, fishing, horse-riding,cycling and rambling; along with excellent countrysideattractions including Bedgebury National Pinetum,Bewl Water Reservoir and world-famous castles, housesand gardens which have inspired the likes of JaneAusten, Charles Dickens, Rudyard Kipling and SirArthur Conan Doyle.

Come and discover Hawkhurst,“The Crossroads of the Weald”.

Welcome to Hawkhurst Hawkhurst Heritage Trail

14

36

87

9

10

11

12

13

14

Hawkhurst, today, consists oftwo districts: The Moor withits beautiful Parish Churchand village green, andHighgate with its villageshops centred on theattractive, almost twohundred year old, Colonnade.

Follow the blue plaquesof the HawkhurstHeritage Trail (justunder six miles), todiscover some more ofour history.

1 - Library2 & 3 - Dunk’s Hall4 - Victoria Hall5 - Colonnade6 - Infant School7 - Private Lunatic Asylum8 - William Rootes9 - Railway Station10 - Collingwood House11 - The Laundry12 - Moor School13 - Gas Works14 - Cottage Hospital

Originally published in 2009 as a full-sized map,this may now be downloaded from our website:www.visithawkhurst.org.uk

8 William Rootes

25

Image © John Hunt

Image © John Hunt

Image © John Hunt

Image © Britainonview

Image © Britainonview

Image ©

C.P

arker

www.visithawkhurst.org.uk

Please see over for Smugglers Trail

4 ‘Kino’ Cinema (Victoria Hall)

Image © John HuntSt. Laurence Church, The Moor

Follow in the footsteps ofthe Hawkhurst Gang...They were the ‘Mafia’ of the early 18th Century. The Gang wasappreciated by the poor for employment after the demise of the wooland iron industries, and by parsons and others for duty-free ‘baccy’,brandy and tea.

Within this map, you will find some of the key landmark sitesassociated with the dastardly exploits of this infamous Gang ofsmugglers. At each place identified with a symbol, you will findfurther details on how they would operate with fearsome ruthlessness.

When Hawkhurst Ruledthe Weald...Key

H

awkhurst Gang

Smugglers Trail

Est. 1735

Smugglers TrailLocation

Gibbet or Gallows

Settlement

Railway

HawkhurstThe Royal Oak - TN18 4EP

The Queens Inn - TN18 4EYThe Great House- TN18 5EJ

The Oak and Ivy - TN18 5DBTudor Court B&B - TN18 5DA

GoudhurstThe Star & Eagle - TN17 1ALSt.Mary’s Church - TN17 1AL

CranbrookTerracotta Restaurant - TN17 1DP

The George - TN17 3HEThe White Horse - TN17 3EX

Hurst GreenThe White Horse - TN19 7PU

The George (Eurasia) - TN19 7PN

RobertsbridgeThe Seven Stars - TN32 5AJ

HooeThe Red Lion - TN33 9EW

RyeSimon the Pieman - TN31 7LBThe Mermaid - TN31 7EY

HastingsThe Bo-Peep - TN38 0AAThe Stag - TN34 3BJHastings Arms - TN34 3EGSmugglers Adventure- TN34 3HY

WhatlingtonThe Royal Oak - TN33 0NJ

NewendenThe White Hart - TN18 5PN

you wake at midnight, and hear a horse's feet,Don't go drawing back the blind, or looking in the street.

Them that ask no questions isn't told a lie.Watch the wall, my darling, while the Gentlemen go by!Five and twenty ponies,Trotting through the dark -Brandy for the Parson,'Baccy for the Clerk;Laces for a lady, letters for a spy,And watch the wall, my darling, while the Gentlemen go by!

From ‘A Smugglers Song’ by Rudyard Kipling, who lived at

Bateman’s (Burwash) between 1902 and 1936.

Haw

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SedlescombeThe Queens Head - TN33 0QA