For many years in Cornwall, smuggling was regarded as an honourable profession. In fact, these men and women were often ‘upstanding’ members of the community.
Silas Finn, or Finny as he was better known, regularly landed smuggled goods right here at Portwrinkle, in a small cove below the village! The excise men who were in charge of enforcing duty laws and preventing smuggling were hardly ever local and didn’t know the area very well. Small coves that were used to land goods, were out of sight and often undiscovered.
Finny is said to have managed to steer clear of the watchful eye of the excise men by disguising himself as a woman, wearing a dress and a bonnet with the wide brim to keep his face hidden. Often Finny would roam arm in arm with a lady called Joan Finn. Some thought Joan was his wife, others a business acquaintance. Whatever the case, Joan herself was reportedly also successful smuggler in her own right.
Despite his best efforts, one fateful night Finny was caught red handed. The excise men found him with a large amount of smuggled goods and in a panicked state, Finny did something said to have been completely out of character. He struck a deal with the authorities to turn in his fellow smugglers in return for his own freedom.
Finny agreed to light a lantern and use it to signal from the cliffs at Portwrinkle, indicating to other smugglers that the coast was clear and safe to land.
As soon as they hit the sand, the customs men swooped in and arrested the smugglers with a cargo of brandy, lace, tea and tobacco. Among captured smugglers were Finny’s close friends Amram Hooper and his sister Jochabed. Finny had betrayed his friends and fled, saving only himself.
Legend has it that the ghost of Silas Finn haunts the cliffs of Portwrinkle and Crafthole, restless in regret of his betrayal.
The cove beneath Portwrinkle is known today as Finnygook Beach and a local inn at Crafthole is named the Finnygook Inn, where they have an impressive sculpture of Finny, holding his lantern.
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Portwrinkle Holidays is just a short distance to many great activities and places to see in Cornwall, with the closest beach just a stones throw away.
Welcome to Portwrinkle in Whitsand Bay, a hidden gem on Cornwall’s south coast. Our self-catering holiday homes offer breathtaking sea views and provide easy access to two stunning beaches.
