Smuggling in the Minehead port area

The Minehead port area, which stretched from the Devon boundary to Shurton Barrs near Stogursey, was full of small creeks and landing places where goods could be illegally landed. Such goods might be luxuries but were usually basic commodities like salt and soap. Smuggling was not just a question of evading paying duty but also harbour dues for the upkeep of quays, restrictions on foreign imports in war, restrictions on cattle movements during cattle plague and laws against dumping of cheap Irish manufactures.