Lymington Local Customs

Hardly a local custom now, but smuggling was a huge industry in the past. There is allegedly a filled in tunnel leading from the Angel Inn to Stanwell House Hotel, from where sumgglers could then easily get to the town quay. Local history also records another tunnel (though less likely) that runs from an area near to the Angel Inn all the way up to the area around the polic station, which is right at the Northern end of the town.

The pub the Thomas Tripp claims to be named after a famous smuggler, but he was in fact a lifeboatman (although that is not to say that he couldnt have used the job to his own benefit!)

For more information on the history of smuggling in the area, visit St. Barbe's museum, New Street, Lymington.

Apparently there is also a legend of piracy in local village Hordle. There is a hill there called Golden Hill where pirates allegedly hid their cache of gold. More on this is on Wikipedia.

Each August Lymington holds a carnival along the high street, followed by a fun fair on Pennington Common. On bank holiday weekend, there is also a carnival procession through Milford on Sea, and this creates a bit of rivalry!

Milford's carnival is usually longer and better, and there are stalls and games on the village green throughout the day. People go to greater effort in Milford, with bigger floats. Three years ago, the council invited members of the Notting Hill carnival to come down and finish off the procession - really amazing. They then had to rush back to London for their carnival the next day!

I'll take a couple of photos of them this summer, so you can see for yourself.

Visit St. Barbe Museum and Art Gallery. The area has seen a thriving salt industry, smugglers landing their illegal cargoes on the coast, and has a long tradition of innovative boat building. The museum's aim is to capture the unique flavor of life in the district and to bring first class art exhibitions into the town.