WIMBORNE MINSTER

The Gulliver Memorial

At his height, Isaac Gulliver was described by Customs as 'one of the greatest and notorious smugglers in the West of England'.  He was born in 1745 and appears to have become involved in smuggling from an early age.  Gradually, he developed his business until it extended all along the coast from Devon to Hampshire and employed, at least, 50 uniformed men.  He smuggled most contraband, but later specialised in spirits, investing his profits in a number of properties in the area.  However, by 1782 he decided to take advantage of the government's offer of a free pardon, nevertheless continuing with his spirits in a low key way.  Tradition also has it that he uncovered a French plot to kill King George III, who on hearing about it, decreed that he should be given a free pardon and be allowed to "smuggle as much as he likes".  Whatever the truth, he was highly regarded during his retirement in Wimborne and when he died aged 77 in 1822 he was awarded the honour of a vault and memorial stone in the Minster.

Smuggling in the 18 and 19c was endemic in Dorset and there are many references to the use of churches for this activity.  See Studland and Fleet (Old Church) as just two examples.