Here are two events hosted by the West Bay Discovery Centre.
Exhibition Myth & Reality Smuggling in the 18th Century
Imagine a ship gliding in from France in the Dorset at midnight, the splash of a line going over the side: the sound of the oars splashing in the tide; a dark object being slipped into the sea, and another … and another.
The Centre’s latest seasonal exhibition running from 15th February to 15th June 2025 looks back to a time in the mid-18th to 19th Centuries when smuggling was widespread along the South Coast. The governments of the time repeatedly raised customs and excise tariffs on luxuries like brandy, rum, silks, tobacco and tea, to fund war and imperial expansion. For people in rural areas subsistence wages and ‘Free Trade’ promised good money, adventure and access to luxury items. The exhibition “Smuggling – Myth and Reality” explains why Dorset was ideal for smuggling, and why it wasn’t a harmless pursuit. It tells stories of the individuals and gangs involved in it and those who faced the challenging task of preventing their exploits.
Talk: Quirky Stories from around West Bay
West Bay Discovery Centre’s next winter talk is on Wednesday 26th February at 2 pm at the Salt House. They are delighted to welcome Bridport Museum volunteer and author Tegwyn Jones to talk to us about Quirky Bridport and West Bay! His book Quirky Bridport published in 2024 features stories that make Bridport a special place to live or to visit. The book sold out at Christmas and we are hopeful that the reprint will be available to buy at our talk.
Tickets are £6 and available from Bridport Tourist Information Centre and can also be booked online. https://bridportandwestbay.co.uk/…/talk-quirky-stories…/
