Take the Thanet Coastal Path along the seafront at Minnis Bay and take in the beach huts, white cliffs and holidaymakers. The concrete cycle path feels somewhat incongruent with the scenery and no doubt wouldn't be built now, but it does make for a good pedal along the beach.

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July 3, 2024

bloody confrontation at Marsh Bay near here proved the downfall of the North Kent gang. A blockademan recognized one of the gang, and called out his name. At this, all resistance evaporated as the smugglers fled. This was just the beginning of the story, though. The matter was put in the hands of a Margate solicitor, John Boys. Amazingly, pursuit by the legal process succeeded where the gun and pistol had failed. Through Boys' tenacious efforts 18 members of the gang were brought to book, and a Maidstone jury convicted all 18 for armed assembly.

The conviction and break-up of the gang is especially remarkable because of the intimidation that went on in the lead-up to the trial. The unfortunate solicitor...

'...was the object of general hatred in the town of Margate; he was placarded on the walls as an informer and a hunter after blood-money, his house was frequently assailed, his windows broken, his person assaulted in the dark, the fruit trees in his garden destroyed' [20]

Boys was probably not the only one intimidated, either. Jury nobbling was commonplace, and the Maidstone jury were putting themselves at considerable risk by bringing in their guilty verdict.

Smugglers used caves in Margate to store their goods, and the earthworks remained a closely-guarded secret until they were revealed by sheer fluke: a gardener working at Trinity Square disappeared in a fatal fall when his spade penetrated the roof of the long-forgotten cavern. The owner of the site presumably mourned the loss of his employee for only a token period, for the cave was soon opened as a tourist attraction.

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Elevation 50 m

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Location: Birchington, Thanet, Kent, South East England, England, United Kingdom

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