Baring-Gould relates from his
own experience seeing a farmhouse being demolished on
the edge of Bodmin moors. The great hall chimney was
of unusual bulk; and the reason for its bulk was
revealed after it was thrown down. The hearth
contained a chamber behind accessible from a low
walled up door concealed behind a kitchen dresser and
plastered over. The door was so low it could only be
entered on all fours.
One could also
enter the chamber from a hole in the floor in the
bedroom above. One could lift a plank in the floor
exposing an opening by which anyone might pass under
the wall behind the chimney though a kind of door and
down steps to this airless and lightless apartment.
Baring-Gould believes this room was used, without
question, to hide kegs of smuggled spirits and
tobacco.
This house lay
about fourteen miles from Boscastle, a dangerous
harbor on the north Cornish coast; and about a mile
from the main road from London, by way of Exeter,
Launceton, and Falmouth. This house could keep well
supplied with spirits free of duty for travelers
along the road, and supply other taverns along the
way. Roads, really rough lanes, lay between this
house and the sea over the wild moors, lined by
steep hedges of banked earth. The smuggler could pass
to and from the sea well concealed with packs of
mules carrying the contraband.
Baring-Gould, A
Book of Cornwall, pages
262-264.)
Baring-Gould also
describes the demolition of an old church. The
demolition men found hollowed out grave-like spaces
beneath the floor slates. Much larger than graves,
these recesses undoubtedly held smuggled spirits. In
fact, the clerk had found the concealed spaces and
dug out some kegs and made some extra money selling
liquor from these stores.
Baring-Gould, A
Book of Cornwall, pages
264-265.)
