The Owlers

This is a term for smugglers used since medieval times in Kent. It is not known how the term is derived. It could be for one of three reasons:-

• Because they worked at night.
• Possibly because they used an owl's call to contact each other.
• Or, a possible transposition of the word "wooller".

The export of wool from England was prohibited from medieval times to protect the weaving trade. However, the result was that as there was overproduction, the price for wool was too low for many farmers to make a decent profit. The answer was to smuggle the wool to the Continent where English wool was in great demand. Import customs duties were established originally in 1272 by Edward I to assist in paying for his wars against France and this meant that the smugglers now had a reason for starting a two way trade across the Channel.

All kinds of goods were smuggled into England such as brandy, gin or geneva, rum, lace, gloves, jewelry and, in huge quantities, tea. In 1770, a pound of tea costing 7d in France could be sold for 5 shillings and a four gallon tub of brandy bought for £ 1 would sell for ?. Even at those prices the purchaser would consider they were getting a bargain.

One of the main 'centers' or haunts of these Owlers was The Romney Marshes, just as much an area for sheep rearing then as it is today. In 1662, the Death Penalty was introduced for anyone caught smuggling wool. Of course, catching the smuggler was the problem and rather than deter the individuals involved, the use of firearms became more prevalent. In 1671 it was estimated that approximately 20,000 packs of wool a year were reaching Calais alone. Not too surprising when, in April, 1697, there would have been 160,000 sheep shorn on The Marshes and wool was also being brought from areas further inland.

By the end of the 1600's the use of firearms was becoming commonplace and for the next 150 years there was virtually open warfare in Kent. Even after 1800 it was normal for armed convoys of smugglers with more than 100 horses to ride straight through the middle of Canterbury in broad daylight on their way to London.

Although most of the Gangs had their hard core members, there was extensive use made of "casual" labour in the area where a run might be made. In the majority of cases these part time smugglers were agricultural labourers who wanted to supplement their income which in say, 1810, would have been between 6d and 8d a day. An ordinary carrier of goods for the smugglers could earn up to a guinea a week or 3 shillings a night. One of the individuals who would stand guard armed with a stout ash "bat" (capable of inflicting severe damage or even killing a person) could earn double this amount.

From Peter E. Blanche's Kent and Canterbury Resources

http://www.digiserve.com/peter/owl.htm