Cowes & Isle of Wight Customs History
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The once proud Customs Service is now nothing more that a shell of what it previously was, there are now no staff employed on the Island and the final indignity is for it to be merged as very much the lesser partner with the Inland Revenue.
I have worked on and off for 25 years as a Customs Officer at Cowes on the Isle of Wight. In 2005 the office was effectively closed giving no Customs presence on the Isle of Wight for the first time in over 430 years. There is also no presence along most of the UK coast which is now open to smugglers and terrorists.
Whilst I was a Cowes I had the opportunity to extract details from some of the historic records which were held at the Cowes office, fortunately some of these have now been returned to the Island and are held by the Isle of Wight Records Office, and it is hoped that others will be transferred to the National Archives. I am now also transcribing records (mainly Letters Books) from the National Archives, but this will be a long job. I am also attempting to compile a list of officers who have served on the Isle of Wight, which also includes Excise Officers, although most of these records do not appear to have survived, and Coast Guard Officers until about 1830.
Unfortunately most records post 1925 have not yet been released as the result of privacy consideration, so I only have very limited information about staffing after that date. I am attempting to compile a list of Officers who served after that date. It you know of anyone (or served on the Island yourself in either Customs or Excise) please Contact me.
A short history of Cowes Customs
Cowes in the News *New* Newspaper Extracts about Customs at Cowes, also includes some Excise and Coastguard.
From Cowes Record Books - This includes transcriptions of extracts from Collector to Board Letters Books, now held in the National Archives, which give insights into the way Cowes Customs operated.
Letters Books, Collector to Board
Customs Staff
An Alphabetical List of Officers who have served on the Isle of Wight
Customs Staff 1821 - 1830 - transcription from the Oaths of Admission book held at the National Archives.
Cowes staff 1839 - 1922 - transcription from the Ages and conditions book held at the National Archives.
Serving from 1885 to 1898 - extracts from record books
Serving between 1892 and 1912 - extracts from record books
Other Information
The wreck of the Varvassi off the Needles, 1947 including Customs reports.
A Note of sort of people suitable for positions in Cowes Customs service. - 1811
Customs Gallery - a limited range of pictures of Customs Officers and property on the Island.
Do you want to be a Tidewaiter? Take the examination to become a Tidewaiter from the Guide to the Civil Service Examinations, 1856
Salt Survey 1749 - of the English salt officers, Wight Isle collection, by the Excise Surveyor General, 1749
Customs Cowes Papers - An occasional series of papers about more specific areas of work / Customs Officers
Robert Willis, Boatman Yarmouth 1785 - 1823
From the Charge Book
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This book detailed investigations into alleged misdemeanours by Customs Officers at Cowes. The tale of the six Cocoa Nuts John Fowell - Three strikes and you're out |
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This picture shows the gravestone of Thomas Sivell in Binstead churchyard. The inscription reads: To the memory of THOs SIVELL who was cruely fhot on board his floop by fome officers of customs of the Port of Portfmouth on the 15th June 1785 at the age of 64 years leaving a difconfolate widow & family.
Note: At this time an 'f' was often used in place of an 's' in the English language This is not the only case of an allegedly innocent person being killed by Customs. In St. Helens churchyard there is a gravestone which reads: Sacred to the memory of Richard Matthews who died 20th November 1816.
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Information about updates to this and my other web pages.
A useful site for Customs, Coastguard and other Island records
Note: These pages are my transcriptions of original documents, they are accurate to the best of my ability but I do not take any responsibility for errors. This page predominantly contains Customs records, but have included Excise records where available. Unfortunately these do not appear to have been preserved in the same way as Customs records.
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Page dedicated to Vic Street and Roy Griffiths, both late Officers, Cowes Customs |
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