Goudhurst is very pleasant place with several rather good pubs. You can visit the churchyard which was the site of the Battle and also go into the Star and Eagle and sit where smugglers once caroused and planned devious deeds.

You can also go the home of the smuggling crew, Hawkshurst itself. The Oak and Ivy pub where they used to hang out is unfortunately closed now. Instead you can wander around the town and possibly visit the excellent Kino Cinema and go watch some blockbusters or more arthouse films it is also plush and super cosy.

You can go to pubs all over Kent which have connections to smugglers and no doubt one day I will feature some of them in my videos. There used to be a whole museum to smuggling in Broadstairs at Bleakhouse (Charles Dickens stayed there) but alas this has shut down.

If this tale intrigued you then why not try some of the reading material I delved into.

Details of the trial of Thomas Kingsmill at the Old Bailey

Parsons, Scarecrows and Fear: Kent's Smuggling Heritage an excellent article by Richard Crowhurst

Smuggling Rough, Rude Men by John Douch

Scarecrows Legion Smuggling in Kent and Sussex by Geoffrey Hufton and Elaine Baird

Smuggling in Kent and East Sussex 1700-1840 by Mary Waugh

Smugglers Britain very interesting website which covers the whole country.