Deal

Deal is situated on the Kent coast, a few miles from Dover. The name comes from the the word for hollow or valley.

The Smugglers at Deal

Deal's coastal location meant it was a perfect haven for smugglers. In the 17th Century, the town was notorious for smuggling. Both Daniel Defoe and Samuel Pepys wrote of the town and its smugglers after their visits. Many of the buildings of the time have survived and are linked with a warren of tunnels running under the town. The tunnels run from many of the houses to buildings including churches and were used to transport the smuggled goods. William Pitt-the-Younger declared that all the boats from Deal should be burnt as they were suspected to be involved in smuggling. This is thought to be the end of Deal's smuggling past.

TheDealDirectory.co.uk

For more information about the town, please see our Deal portal site.