A young 18th century Manx smuggler,  Thomas Stowell, is buried at Bowness on Solway church.

Smuggling along the Solway coast was rife during the 17th and 18th centuries, with large gangs of professional smugglers operating on the Scottish coast and to a lesser extent, on the English side.

Many illicit loads were landed between Saltpans and Skinburness by these ‘midnight traders’, including brandy and tea. One of the smugglers’ Ankers barrels, used to transport such goods, is on display in Bowness on Solway church.

His smuggling cost him his life

In 1755, the King’s boast from Skinburness intercepted one of these smuggling ships.  During the chase, a young Manx smuggler, Thomas Stowell, (or stoal) was wounded by gunfire.He was landed, with his cargo of brandy and tobacco, at Bowness-on-Solway where he died.

Thomas Stowell is buried in a marked grave at Bowness on Solway churchyard, situated under a Yew tree where six more smugglers are buried, in unmarked graves.

The smugglers’ grave can be found by walking to the right (north) of the church and locating the yew tree which is about a third of the way down the graveyard.
More information

Smugglers’ Britain – Find out about smuggling in Britain

Wherecanwewalk.com – The Smugglers Route walk – The Bank End Ramble

Situated on the edge of Finglandrigg Wood, near the Solway Coast, is a wonderful carved seat featuring the Peregrine Falcon. This seat is a memorial dedicated to Dr. Derek Almey Ratcliffe.

Derek Ratcliffe was an outstanding ecologist and nature conservationist who had an international reputation in ornithology and botany. One of his favourite places was Finglandrigg Wood and his research into the Chemical DDT led to the preservation of the Peregrine Falcon.

Derek was Deputy Director (Science) of the Nature Conservancy (from 1973, the Nature Conservancy Council -NCC), becoming the Chief Scientist until 1989. He Died on 25th may 2005.

A granite stone bears a plaque commemorating the work of this famous scientist and ecologist.

He was the author of nine books, including:

• Plant Communities of the Scottish Highlands (1962, with Donald McVean).
• A Nature Conservation Review (1977, edited; 2 volumes).
• The Peregrine Falcon (1980, 1993 expanded second edition).
• Birds of Mountain and Upland (1990).
• The Raven (1997).
• In Search of Nature (2000).
• Lakeland (2002).
• Lapland-A Natural History, is an account of Derek’s annual expeditions to the far north, with his wife Jeannette.