PAST PERILS
PRECAUTIONS AT RAMSGATE AGAINST ATTACK. MENACE OF FRENCH PRIVATEERS. Today Ramsgate has. to say the least of it. peaceful associations, yet there was a time towards the end of the eighteenth century when the harbour was menaced by French privateers. The precautions which were taken against attack are described in an old manuscript by the Deputy Harbour Master of Ramsgate in 1831. part of which is printed in the July "Port of London Authority Monthly." "Frequently ships which grounded on the Goodwins were brought into Ramsgate and their crews rescued by the courage of the Ramsgate boatmen. But in 1793-4 such was the audacity of the Ramsgate hovcllers that the Trustees were obliged to resort to very severe measures to curb their insolence and protect their officers. Such also was the activity and daring of the French privateers that they would with a commanding breeze at night stand close over to the piers, so that an armed boat and six men was provided every night to cruise outside the entrance to the harbour. Two men were also stationed at each pierhead, armed with muskets and cutlasses. These men were under the orders of the harbour master, who also had au - thority to extinguish the pier headlights if necessary. Alarm bells were also suspended and volunteers kept watch at night."
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Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 August 1939, Page 7
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221PAST PERILS Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 August 1939, Page 7
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