The coastline between Fairlie and Largs in the late 18th century was a thriving place, during the ‘war on smuggling’, as illegal goods were brought upon our shores in a desperate bid to avoid detection by the authorities.

According to an article which appeared in the ‘News’ in 1900, sailors manage to evade customs and even give some of their booty away, as the area was considered a good place to dock and escape to the back hills.

Smugglers were almost seen as similar in character to ‘Robin Hood’, as farmers in the local area warmly welcomed them, while giving chase were the customs and excise ‘Press Gang’ who were described as ‘legalised ruffians’.

A book in the 1850s about the history of the Clyde Coast stated: “If there still remain alive any of your readers who frequented the watering places of Largs and Fairlie during the period of the American War of Independence (1775–1783), they must have remembered at that time the Fairlie Roads were the constant rendezvous of Clyde ships, both inward and outward bound.

“These roadsteads then were seldom seen without three or four fine ships lying at anchor between Largs and Fairlie. Your young readers will, no doubt, feel surprised at this, and will naturally ask ‘How come - it is quite a curiosity to behold a square rigged vessel drop anchor in these waters!’ “But in truth, it was the terror of the press-gang which made almost every large vessel, whether inward or outward bound, stop in the Fairlie roads. Along the whole of the west coasts of Renfrewshire and Ayrshire there was a complete understanding between the farmers, smugglers and others of the districts, on the one part, and the captains and sailors of our Clyde merchant ships on the other part, that on a ship arriving from our American colonies into the Firth of Clyde, it was to be warned by private signals and by other modes of information, when and where it was safe for the sailors to land from the said ship.

“According, upon receiving the necessary intelligence or upon observing anywhere upon the line of the coast a signal from the hills, announcing that the press-gang were not in that quarter, the whole crew, with the exception of the captain, mate and apprentices, deserted the ship and fled up the country, mostly to the neighbourhood of Beith, which at that point was a perfect den for smugglers.

“The ship then was very generally brought to anchor in the Fairlie roads by the captain and the mate, and an express despatched to the owners for its safe arrival.

“With regard to the outward bound ships they were usually navigated from Greenock and Port Glasgow by the captain, mate and apprentices, to the Fairlie roads, and there dropped their anchors until private communication had been made to the sailors, who were under hidings, and as soon as these sailors were able to get safely on board, the ship sailed to her place of detination.

“It is needless to say that this state of matters, and the general prevalance of smuggling kept the whole west coast in a position boarding on intestine war.” The author added: “I rememeber that when our family occupied Haylie House near Largs, and seeing three fine looking sailors (who had deserted a ship lying in Fairlie roads), pass our door, with their bundles suspended on their backs, pushing their way over Achen Branchen Hill, for Beith.

“At this time there was no carriage road through the moor above Largs and Fairlie. Sailors at this time were great favourites with the farmers of the coast for they generally carried a drop of brandy and a little tobacco in their knapstacks, and these dainties made them always welcome visitors everywhere.

“Although Government offered rewards for discovering the hiding places of these sailors in the merchant service, there was scarely an instance of our west country farmers ever betraying a sailor who had thrown himself upon their rustic hospitality, Indeed the press-gang was detested by everybody; and almost universally considered a sort of legalised ruffians.” And smuggling even managed to take place on the Isle of Cumbrae, despite Millport being a base to prevent the illegal transferring of goods.

During the 1630s, a Revenue Cutter was established in the Clyde southern area for the collection of tolls and the collection of duties and to assist in the prevention of smuggling.

Captain Andrew Crawford with Mr Miller as his 1st officer commanded the first Revenue Cutter. About the year 1745 Millport was the established base of a new cutter, the Royal George, and was about 250 tons register, and mounted with 16 guns and manned by a crew of 60 men, mostly natives of Cumbrae.

The influence of these early days played a role in some of the street names including Miller Street, Crawford Street, and to the immediate east of the Pier, Ritchie Street. And Garrison House in Millport was built in 1745 as the residence of the Captain and officers of the Revenue Sailing Ship the ‘Royal George’.

One report suggested that occasionally that despite the activities of the Revenue Cutter, smuggling still existed to an extent on the very doorstep of Cumbrae, and revealed that the even Communion had to be postponed owing to the fact that the smugglers had not been able to land in time with the necessary wine for the Sacred Feast!