Today – 18th September 2020 – we have the pleasure of hosting a Book Launch – initially planned for this time last year when author Frances Wilkins – who has written many books on the subject of smuggling in Britain in the 18th and 19th Century – including ‘The Smugglers of Kyle’ and ‘The Loans Smugglers’ was going to be coming to talk about her new book – ‘The Dundonald Smugglers Revisited’ – but this had to cancelled due to the pandemic.
To make up for Frances for not being able to be here in person, we’ve made this short film where she talks about her new book, and describes the activities of several prominent smugglers from in and around Dundonald. Our film also contains our music video dedicated to David Dunlop – who was one of the most notorious smugglers of the area, and who is buried in Dundonald Church Yard.
Frances’ new book makes a special thanks to Kirsteen Croll, General Manager of Dundonald Castle Visitor Centre and is dedicated to locals Bob Mayes, Jim McQuiston, Sheila Payne and Gordon Stewart of Dundonald – “without whose boundless enthusiasm much of the story of the local smugglers would have remained untold.”
This morning we’re also leading a guided walk along part of the Smugglers’ Trail starting at Dundonald Castle Visitor Centre – pointing out significant spots such as where some of the known smugglers lived – along what was once a real Smugglers Trail – now a popular walking route. You can find out more about the Smugglers Trail in our earlier blog all about it. The guided walk is ticketed and now sold out.
Today also marks the opening of an exhibition about Smugglers at the Museum at Dundonald Castle Visitor Centre – which will be here until 25th October. The Museum is free to enter, is accessible and will be open daily from 11am – 4pm.
Wishing Frances every success with ‘The Smugglers of Dundonald Revisited’ – a short supply of signed copies of the book are now on sale in the Visitor Centre. Copies can also be purchased via her website:www.franscript.co.uk
The Smugglers of Dundonald by Frances Wilkins: ISBN: 978-1-897725-34-4
Published by Wyre Forest Press 2020
Image of smugglers on poster by: Image By Atkinson, John Augustus (artist); Miller, William (engraver); Walker, James (publisher) – NMM PAD7772, Public Domain,https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=23829884
Poster by Gwen Sinclair for FoDC
