Draft:The Battle of Sidley Green
| Submission declined on 12 November 2024 by SafariScribe (talk). This submission's references do not show that the subject qualifies for a Wikipedia article—that is, they do not show significant coverage (not just passing mentions) about the subject in published, reliable, secondary sources that are independent of the subject (see the guidelines on the notability of events). Before any resubmission, additional references meeting these criteria should be added (see technical help and learn about mistakes to avoid when addressing this issue). If no additional references exist, the subject is not suitable for Wikipedia.
Where to get help
How to improve a draft
You can also browse Wikipedia:Featured articles and Wikipedia:Good articles to find examples of Wikipedia's best writing on topics similar to your proposed article. Improving your odds of a speedy review To improve your odds of a faster review, tag your draft with relevant WikiProject tags using the button below. This will let reviewers know a new draft has been submitted in their area of interest. For instance, if you wrote about a female astronomer, you would want to add the Biography, Astronomy, and Women scientists tags. Editor resources
|  |
The Battle of Sidley Green in Bexhill, East Sussex, was a bloody encounter between smugglers and the British Coast Blockade on January 3, 1828. [1][2]
Background
[edit]In the 18th and early 19th century, smuggling was rife along the English coast due to high tariffs on goods like tea and brandy. [3] The Coast Blockade was a group of customs officers tasked with stopping the smuggling. Local gangs (such as the Little Common Gang) frequently clashed with law enforcement [4].
The Battle
[edit]On the evening of the 3rd of January 1828, a smuggler group unloaded contraband near what is now De La Warr Pavilion. They quickly tried to transport their goods inland toward Sidley Green, despite being detected by a patrol from the nearby Martello Tower.[1]. The smugglers were protected by "batsmen," who wielded large wooden clubs to shield the "tubmen" carrying the goods. The Coast Blockade pursued the smugglers up Sea Lane, now Sea Road, engaging in a running battle that culminated in a brutal confrontation at Sidley Green. Despite reinforcements arriving from Galley Hill, the blockademen struggled against the smugglers' organized defense. The battle resulted in several casualties on both sides, with at least two fatalities reported: Quartermaster Collins of the Blockade and a smuggler named Timothy Smithurst [2]
Aftermath
[edit]Following the clash, eight smugglers were apprehended and sentenced to transportation to Australia, while others managed to escape with the illicit cargo. This battle underscored the challenge authorities faced in curbing smuggling along the Sussex coast, where deep local knowledge and public support often aided smuggler operations. The Battle of Sidley Green remains a prominent historical event, highlighting the intensity of smuggling conflicts in the 19th century British coastline [1][2]. The incident was widely known across England at the time, with reports in various titles including The Morning Chronicle, Bell's Weekly Messenger, The Weekly Times, The Western Times, The North Devon Journal and the Hampshire Advertiser [3].
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Smuggling in Bexhill-on-Sea". www.discoverbexhill.com. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
- ^ a b "Smuggling in Bexhill - Bexhill Museum". www.bexhillmuseum.org.uk. 2014-01-07. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
- ^ "Home | Search the archive | British Newspaper Archive". www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-11-14.