Old Photograph Horseshoe Beith Scotland

Old photograph of shops, houses and people on the Horseshoe in Beith in North Ayrshire, Scotland. The junction of Main Street, Wilson Street, Mitchell Street and Kings Road was known as the Horseshoe because of its shape. Beith is a small town situated in the Garnock Valley, approximately 20 miles south west of Glasgow. Beith has a historical connection to smuggling and built a reputation during the 18th century as being a town which harboured those whose intentions were not always lawful. In 1733 forty or fifty Beith smugglers sacked the Irvine Customs House, escaping with a rich booty of confiscated contraband goods and by 1789 a company of 76 soldiers were quartered in the town dealing with the continuing illicit trade in tea, tobacco, and whisky spirits. This caused great inconvenience to the law abiding citizens on whom the soldiers were billeted. The town was policed in this fashion for some time thereafter. Hence, the Main Street's popular public house is still called the Smugglers Tavern, recalling the days when Beith's location between the coast and Paisley and Glasgow, made it a convenient stopping off point for those involved in nefarious activities.



All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

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