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Captain James Bollinger

The Sussex Smuggler by Captain James Bollinger with Miss Meadow.

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Captain James Bollinger: America Ground, Hastings, East Sussex, United Kingdom; I would like to share my local historic findings and research.

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The Hawkhurst Gang Season 1 Episode 2

By Captain James Bollinger. Captain James Bollinger March 11, 2023

The Hawkhurst Gang Season 1 Episode 2 As the gang entered the 1740s, expansion west to the more accessible and flat beaches of West Sussex was an obvious business move. Gray and by now the notorious bunch of men who followed, were expanding by amalgamating with other gangs through alliances and hostile take overs. This could be described in contemporary terms as a 'turf war'. Arguably, the struggle for Gray was not necessarily the Revenue and Dragoons as they were thinly spread, it would have been the other gangs. Smuggling was a battle of survival, hearts, minds and only the fittest or maybe in this case the cruelest would survive. The lawlessness continued..... Mermaid Street, Rye. On right pub sign for the Mermaid Inn. A regular haunt for the gangs as well as other villains was Rye, East Sussex. The Transport gang led by Jeremiah Curtis (aka Alexander Pollard) worked with John Grayling in the Hastings area. Hastings would have been rich pickings in the 1740s with its beac...

The story of the Wreck of the VOC Ship The Amsterdam, Bulverhythe, Hastings, East Sussex.

By Captain James Bollinger. Captain James Bollinger July 24, 2023

The story of the Wreck of the VOC ship The Amsterdam, Bulverhythe, Hastings, East Sussex. The VOC Ship The Amsterdam (Replica). The story of the VOC ship the Amsterdam is one of movie proportions, However, I do hope Hollywood never get the rights to make it ! But it is still surprising a film has never been made ! The story takes on a three month maiden voyage of the VOC mirror ship (East Indiaman) the Amsterdam. There are some technical pronunciations and titles I need to explain to the reader of this blog. Lets start with the abbreviation VOC. The abbreviation VOC stands for Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie (VOC) or in English, United East India Company. A mirror ship in short term is a ship owned and sailed by the VOC that took currency such as gold, silver, raw materials and soldiers to Batavia and other parts of the Dutch empire. Then returned with the purchased goods to the Netherlands. The VOC ship The Amsterdam (Replica). The Amsterdam was completed in 17...

How did Turret Court get its name. The origins of Turret Court : An investigation into Ancient Trackways.

By Captain James Bollinger. Captain James Bollinger January 22, 2026

How did Turret Court get its name. The Origins of Turret Court: An Investigation into Ancient Trackways How did Turret Court get its name? While the name is shared by the modern residential development and the Victorian house that preceded it, the true origin may lie much deeper in Britain's pre-Roman history. This paper explores the possibility that the name "Turret" serves as a linguistic marker for ancient trackways and ley lines that converge on this specific site. The site’s documented history begins in the Victorian era with the construction of Turret House, which was later known as (or renovated into) Turret Lodge. In 1964, the lodge was demolished to make way for the current standing structure, Turret Court. Alfred Watkins and the "Old Straight Track" To understand the significance of the name, we look to Alfred Watkins (born 1855), the pioneer of ley line theory. In his seminal work, The Old Straight Track, Watkins argued that the UK is crisscrossed b...

The Twisted Spell By Diane Narraway.

By Captain James Bollinger. Captain James Bollinger January 15, 2024

The Twisted Spell By Diane Narraway. Diane Narraway's "Twisted Spell" weaves a captivating narrative set against the mystical backdrop of Chiswell, a quaint village on the island of Portland, off the coast of Dorset, England. Delving into the rich local history of this mysterious place, Narraway creates a spellbinding tale that seamlessly blends elements of witchcraft, religious faith, and the consequences of one's actions. The story unfolds in a community where the echoes of witchcraft still linger, creating an atmospheric and otherworldly setting. Chiswell's reputation for its mystical past comes to life through Narraway's vivid prose, transporting readers to a world where the line between reality and the supernatural blurs. The author's meticulous research is evident in the intricacies of the narrative, as she masterfully embroiders local history into the fabric of her storytelling. At the heart of the tale is the Conjurers Lodge, an intriguing instit...

The Landguard: Smuggling in the 18th Century.

By Captain James Bollinger. Captain James Bollinger September 10, 2023

The Landguard:Smuggling in the 18th Century. When it comes down to the subject of 18th century Smuggling, not much is mentioned about the unsung heroes of the Landguard. There are not to many public houses or taverns called 'The Riding Officer' ,but plenty called or referring to smuggling. The Riding Officers and the Landguard had it tough, it was a thankless task and with the odds stacked against the Riding Officers. Those brave enough executing the job were open to corruption and danger. One such example of how dangerous being a Riding Officer was in 1740 Thomas Carswell found a stash of tea in a barn at Etchingham, East Sussex after shadowing its landing by none other than the Hawkhurst gang at Bulverhythe, Hastings. Carswell with assistance of some Dragoons recovered the tea from a barn and started to convey the tea to Hastings Customs house. However, 'Trip' Stanford, who was leading this particular landing received word about Carswell taking the tea. The intoxica...

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  - Susan Swift Female Enforcer of the Hawkhurst Gang.

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