SEACAPTR
  • THE GORING SMUGGLERS, the Millers Tomb & Shipwrecks
    The flat beach at Goring was a favourite place for the smuggler. During the 18th century, when the 'trade' was at its peak, there were innumerable engagements between smugglers and customs men along the coast.

    If a large cargo was being landed, dozens of men would be employed as speed was essential. A great many hostelries depended for their supplies on the smugglers, and nearby inns would often take immediate delivery.

    The coastal downland behind Goring was famous for its huge flocks of fine sheep. Sometimes, rather than wool or fleece, it was live sheep that were smuggled out, and one can imagine the almost comic performance as men attempted to drive these sheep into small boats in pitch darkness.

    SHEEP1

  • THE MAD MILLER
    Was John Olliver a crazy eccentric, a devout believer or simply a crafty smuggler? What are the known facts about this miller who was born in 1709 and died in 1793?

    His mill was situated on the top of Highdown Hill, slightly south of the present trigonometrical point, and his cottage was somewhere on the northern slope of what was then called Caesar's Hill.

    It was the miller's daily custom to take a walk up the hill to his favourite vantage point to survey the scene and consider the imminence of his own demise; for which he had thoughtfully provided a tomb built in 1763, thirty years before his death. It is believed that he hid all his contraband in a wooden coffin under his bed.

    The mill was destroyed in a severe gale many years ago and as for his cottage, well, that was demolished some time in the sixties due to being structurally dangerous. All that remains now is the tomb.

    THE MILLER'S TOMB

    THE MILLERS TOMB

    JETSKI
    SHIP WRECKS
    Over the years many ships that have sailed past the coast of Worthing have run aground on sand banks or broken up in stormy seas. Here is a list of some of them.

    St.JAMES

    24 Gun Spanish warship; January 1644. Ran aground at Heene,Worthing. Ship and cargo later sailed to London and returned to owners.

    TEIGNMOUTH

    Sailing vessel; Wrecked October 1834. Worthing beach.

    ELIMA

    Sailing lugger; June 1860. Wrecked off Worthing beach.

    THERESA

    Schooner; February 1883. Ran ashore off Navarino Road, Worthing and broke up.

    LOVELY DRUINA

    Ketch; September 1887. Sunk off Worthing.

    ALBERT H.LOCKE

    Brig Collier; June 1888. Off Worthing Pier.

    KING CARL XV

    Schooner; November 1891. Ran aground off Steyne and later broke up.

    ZADNE

    Steamship; November 1894. Crew of 11 abandoned ship off Worthing but were lost when lifeboat capsized. Coastguards apparently did not see the incident and Worthing lifeboat was not launched. Later an RNLI inquiry exonerated the lifeboat from any failure of duty. The crew were buried in Broadwater Cemetery.

    HALCYON

    Brig; July 1895. Off Worthing beach. Crew rescued by lifeboat.

    INDIANA

    Steamship; March 1901. Off Half Brick Inn, East Worthing after collision in fog with CITY OF WASHINGTON which took the crew to Newhaven. Indiana cargo of oranges and lemons were washed ashore and retrieved in large quantities by locals. Wreck later blown up due to being a hazzard to shipping.

    KINGSHILL

    Schooner; February 1915. Wrecked off Goring. Worthing lifeboat capsized and one of the crew lost.

    EDEN

    Steamship; April 1917. Torpedoed off Worthing Pier.

    Home Page

    In the beginning

    Pubs, Bars and Nightclubs (updated 04/04/04)

    The Skeleton Army

    The Bonfire Boys

    Prominent People

    Worthing Churches (Updated 24/04/05)

    Parks and Gardens

    Shopping (Updated 12/04/04)

    Hotels (Updated 11/04/04)

    (11) Cruse Bereavement Friendship Group (Updated 11/01/05)Cruse Logo

    Link to Lionel Leighton Leisure Website

    Site Meter