About

Welcome to Pirates of Port Eynon, a blog dedicated to exploring the history of smuggling and piracy across Gower Peninsula and South Wales. From tales of clandestine landings on secluded coves to the families and communities entwined in smuggling networks, this site seeks to bring to light the often-shadowy chapters of local maritime heritage. Recent articles on the site cover themes such as the violent reality of smuggling, the decline of illicit trade, and the social and legal consequences for those involved.

For example, you’ll find stories like “The Stote Family and the Violent Reality of Smuggling”, “William Hawkin Arthur and the Smugglers of Brandy Cove” and “The Lucas Family and the Pirates of Port Eynon”, among others.

This blog is produced as part of an MA Public History and Heritage project at Swansea University. It is created in association with The Gower Society, bringing together academic research and community heritage-work to document and share the rich — and often overlooked — maritime past of the region.

We hope this site will interest anyone curious about the hidden history of Gower: local historians, heritage enthusiasts, community members, and the wider public.