Budleigh Past and Present

An East Devon smuggler called Jack One evening came under attack. But he proved himself wily In behaving most slyly. Of escaping he’d developed the knack. ©  Michael Downes 2014 This painting by  Peter Goodhall (b.1957) is part of Fairlynch Museum’s art collection. It is entitled ‘A Revenue Cutter Apprehends the Smuggler Jack Rattenbury off Budleigh Salterton .’     A fuller commentary on the work will be published in due course. © the artist  Photo credit: Fairlynch Museum

A Revenue Cutter apprehends the smuggler Jack Rattenbury off Budleigh Salterton.  Oil painting by Peter Goodhall Fairlynch Museum’s Fun Day on Saturday 18 July will have Pirates and Smugglers as one of its themes. Games, stalls, smugglers' stories, village stocks and cream teas will be among the attractions at the Budleigh Salterton museum. Some visitors to the museum find the model of Jack Rattenbury in the spooky surroundings of the Smugglers’ Cellar a little bit scary, especially when they hear him recounting his stories.  The early 19 th century East Devon smuggler had many narrow escapes in his violent confrontations with customs officers. He was clearly a tough and wily character judging by his memoirs where he wrote about his exploits, including one incident which took place in Budleigh Bay.   The scene was evoked in local artist Peter Goodhall's painting, specially commissioned and acquired by the Museum in 1983. He...

Sixty children from Awliscombe C of E Primary School came to visit Fairlynch to celebrate the end of term. They met Jack Rattenbury in the Smugglers’ Cellar.  “Is he dead?” they asked, feeling his cold and clammy fingers. Do they mean the 19th century smuggler or the eerily lifelike figure with piercing brown eyes and computer-generated voice? Who knows what kids think? Do they want to be reassured? Do they suspect there are more Jack Rattenburys out there in Lyme Bay ?   Is she nervous of him, or a bit uncertain of the photographer?  After some explanation they thought that he was probably ok. Dangerous though. A smuggler. “Yes, he did escape from the police. Yes, he probably was violent.”      Sir Walter Raleigh was not so frightening. “Or could that be the man on the bonfire? A penny for the guy, a penny for my thoughts. Were those barrels of gunpowder in the Smugglers’ Cellar?   Was there a candle...

Museum enthusiast Rob Merkel with one of Fairlynch Museum's latest attractions For centuries smuggling was a way of life for Budleigh people. One of the best-known was the vicar of East Budleigh , the Rev. Ambrose Stapleton (c.1771-1852). He was noted for his long tenure at All Saints Church but also for the illegal brandy which he both consumed and stored in the church and in the ancient vicarage of Vicar’s Mead.   Another celebrated smuggler familiar with the coast of East Devon was Jack Rattenbury (1778-1844), pictured left. Although he came originally from Beer, Rattenbury visited Budleigh Bay at least once when he was almost caught red-handed on 29 January 1821 by revenue officer Captain Stocker with “one hundred kegs of spirits, and a bale of tea” as Rattenbury wrote in his memoirs.   Small wonder then that Fairlynch Museum ’s ‘Smugglers’ Cellar’ attracts many visitors who are happy to risk the journey down some rather tricky steps. It’s here th...

Above: Jack Rattenbury seen in East Budleigh's The Rolle Arms with, left, Fairlynch Museum Chairman Roger Sherriff Several local people have reported that Jack Rattenbury was seen recently at the Rolle Arms in East Budleigh . Following investigations Fairlynch Museum Chairman Roger Sherriff has admitted that the infamous smuggler had been allowed a quiet last pint before transferring to his new home at the Museum to receive visitors in the Smugglers' Cellar.   For many years Rattenbury was the bane of Customs and Excise men. Although not a Budleigh man - he was actually born in Beer, East Devon , in 1778 - many of his illegal activities took place in this area. The above painting in the Smugglers’ Cellar at Fairlynch Museum records the moment on 29 January 1821 when he narrowly escaped being arrested a mile or so off Budleigh beach on his way back from France, having as he later admitted in his memoirs “a cargo of goods, consisting of one hundred ke...