Maritime Heritage....

Saltburn's Smuggling Past...

The rugged and desolate coastline of Saltburn was the ideal place to carry out the illicit trade of Smuggling.

Smuggling in the area dates back to the 14th century but reached it's peak in the 18th century, cargoes including brandy, geneva (gin), tabacco, tea, coffee, silk, playing cards, chocolate, snuff, linen and even sail booms and oars for boats. Such large profits could be made, ensuring the smuggling trade flourished!

In the dead of the might the smuggled goods were landed directly on to the beach. Armed men kept watch for the Customs men and accomplices along the coast signalled if there was a hint of danger. If the coast was clear local cobles were launched to ferry the contraband to the shore whence it vanished overnight.

The 'King of the Smugglers' at Saltburn was John Andrew, the licensee of the Ship Inn. Together with Tom King from Kirkleatham, he owned a fast cutter called the Morgan Rattler and when the word went round the village that 'Andrew's cow had calved' helpers knew the Morgan Rattler lay off Saltburn with a cargo to unload. The gang used an underground passage to store the cargoes, the entrance being in the stables via a flagstone in the stall of a horse which kicked savagely when strangers went near.

The gentry and clergy helped distribute the goods and Andrew became a gentleman on the vast profits. He was finally caught, however and fined £100,000. As he was unable to pay, he was imprisoned in York Castle, but his influence meant that after two years he was released.

Re-live the excitment and danger of those bloodthirsty nights and discover the sights, sounds and smells of Saltburn Smuggling Heritage with a visit to the award winning Saltburn Smugglers Heritage Centre. Set in authentic fishermen's cottages alongside the famous Ship Inn public house, the centre recreates an age long past - gone but not forgotten.

The World's Oldest Lifeboat....

Redcar is home to the oldest surviving lifeboat in the world...The Zetland. She was built in 1802 and saved over 500 lives until her last shout in 1880. Predating the foundation of the RNLI, the £200 needed to build the Zetland was raised by fishermen, with help from a clergyman and a local aristocrat. The RNLI took over the running of the Zetland in 1858.

Built by lifeboat pioneer Henry Greathead, the Zetland arrived in Redcar 1802. Originally named simply Lifeboat, she was renamed Zetland during her early career in honor of the lord of the local manor.

The Zetland's first rescue was 3rd December 1802, when she went to the aid of two ships, the Sarah and the Friendship, rescuing 15 men in total. She continued to go to the aid of seafarers in trouble off the rocky coast of Cleveland, gaining the trust and love of the people of Redcar.

In almost 80 years' service, only one man lost his life while crewing the Zetland. William Guy was swept overboard on Christmas Day 1836 while trying to throw a line to a coal brig that had been driven ashore.

After service, the intervention of the townspeople of Redcar saved the Zetland from being destroyed.She was housed in a shed and in a barn before being moved in 1907 to her current home, now the RNLI Zetland Museum.

The Zetland and her stories of daring rescues and fearless crews are at the heart of the story of Redcar.