Smuggling Flamborough Head
The history and romance of Flamborough centre around its sea tradition of piracy, shipwrecks and smuggling. The rocky coastline and stormy seas make this part of the east coast a graveyard for sea-faring vessels. The many caves along its rocky shore were a haven for smugglers of contraband and in the 18th and also into the 19th Century tea, brandy, tobacco, silk and cotton were, by ingenious means, smuggled ashore under the noses of the excise men.
Flamborough Head North Landing
Some of the older houses within the village are said still to contain “smugglers’ hole” cupboards. It is even said that “wrecking” ( flashing of lights to lure unsuspecting ships onto the rocks so that their cargo could be salvaged) was at one time a common pastime.
