During the 17th and 18th Centuries, smuggling on the Solway coast was rife and many illicit loads such as spirits, tobacco and textiles from Scotland, Ireland and the Isle of Man, were landed between the Allonby and Skinburness by gangs of smugglers.
By the early 1900s ships were being built with iron hulls, making ships with wooden hulls redundant. Many of these were towed by tugs up the Solway to the shores of Allonby, from as far a field as Africa and Scandinavia, to be broken up, rather like house demolitions today that save the valuable bits and pieces, the salvaged wood was used for pit props in the coal mines of the north. Some of these old beams can also be found in the structures of local houses.
A 17th century coaching inn, now the 'Ship Hotel' in the Village, is a grade II listed building. Exposed beams and real fireplaces echo the time, in 1857, when Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins stayed here. Dickens and Collins began their journey by train travelling from Carlisle to Hesket Newmarket, eventually ending up at Allonby. At the time, Dickens was involved in publishing a magazine, Household Words, and this trip was to research material for an article, which was then turned into a book, "The Lazy Tour of Two Idle Apprentices". This is a very amusing story and well worth a read. The Cache is named for this book.
You will need your own Pen to sign the Log.
Stealth will be required as this is a Muggle prone area.
Please replace the Cache carefully
Wheelchair Accessible but may need help retrieving the Cache
Plenty of Parking available close to the Cache.
Well done to BigLad & Co. for FTF.
By Kind Permission of Solway Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and endorsed by Allonby Parish Council.