Jamaica Inn and Museum

Jamaica Inn and Museum

Jamaica Inn and Museum
Bolventor
Launceston
Cornwall
PL15 7TS

Tel: 01566 862 50
Fax: 01566 861 77
E-Mail: enquiry@jamaicainn.co.uk

Web: Jamaica Inn and Museum

About Jamaica Inn and Museum

Enter into the evil yet romantic era of smuggling in Cornwall and see what is probably the finest collection of smuggling artefacts in the country. Smuggling evolved when customs dues were first introduced in the thirteenth century but there was no form of law and order until the fifteenth century and even then it was negligible. Goods such as silks, tea, tobacco and brandy were more frequently smuggled into Cornwall than anywhere else in England. Cornish smugglers were not a violent breed, but very cunning. A famous eighteenth century economist defined a smuggler as: 'a person who, though no doubt highly blameable for violating those of natural justice and who would have been in every respect an excellent citizen, had not the laws of his country made that a crime which nature never meant to be so'. So smuggling became accepted and most took part in the proceedings - even the revenue men were quite approachable to the odd bribe! Smuggling around the Cornish coast was comparatively simple as there were few preventive men to enforce the law and even when a smuggler was caught, he was usually dealt with leniently by the presiding magistrates, most of whom were willing recipients of the smuggled goods. Polperro on the south coast and Boscastle, Trebarwith and Tintagel on the north c