Stanton Collins Smuggler

Alfriston in East Sussex place in history was won by its smugglers,Stanton Collins being their leader.
Stanton was born in Chiddingly 4 to 5 miles to the north of Alfriston but moved to Alfriston when his father left him Market cross house which he ran as a butcher.
During the 1820s the English government placed large taxes on the import of tea ,so Stanton decided to become a smuggler.
The Market Cross was a perfect building for this undertaking ,having 21 rooms, 47 doors and 6 staircases as will as cellars and attics, and his gang had a successful and violent career until Stanton was transported to Australia in 1831 for sheep stealing.
After serving his sentence of 7 years ,i believe Stanton returned to the Chiddingly area were he is buried.and the last member of Stantons gang was Bob Hall who died in the workhouse in 1895 at the age of 94 .
The market Cross is now a pub called the Ye Olde smugglers inne and still retains a feel of Stanton Collins time.