C17th UK Tobacco Black Market

When you think of Tobacco fields, Cuba and the American South are the obvious ones. But in the C17th a large swath of the UK was growing tobacco for commercial use. At first it was over looked, the UK tobacco was seen as low quality and hard to cure. By 1619 King James bans the plant in the UK, by this time the quality was on par if not higher than imports. The reason for ban was given as preventing the smoking poor tobacco and to help the colonies in Americas, namely Virginia. Spanish tobacco was also heavily restricted; it could only be imported by Royal appointment. This did not detour the UK tobacco farmer.

By 1953 the situation had got out of hand, vast areas where being used to produce a good yield. The industry employed many local works to grow, cure, prepare, blend and distribute the crop. Cromwell gave the UK tobacco farmers one year’s grace. Grow your own tax free for personal use and all commercial tobacco must have duties paid prior to shipping. The result was a bigger crop and more entrepreneurs coming into area. This was the first time the UK industry was given any legitimate recognition.

By 1658 after riots, armed guards patrolled the UK Plantations.  36 Mounted Solders rode into Chatham, having to “break through”  armed guards. Where greeted with disgust and resistance from most locals, who seemed ready to die protecting there lively hoods. After 200 men from Winchcombe came and joined the resistance. The solders retreated and later reported “It would take 10 men 4 days to destroy such a vast crop”.

The introduction of heavy fines made little difference. Profits where so high people where willing to risk the fines if they could get leaf to market.  Landowner could charge 6 times the price for land and the tobacco farmer could still make 40% profit. This caused alarm and out rage in Virginia & Maryland, drop in exports and revenue.  Local sheriffs didn’t enforce the laws, too many local people and often themselves benefited from the industry.
Laws where introduced, but rarely enforced.

In 1660 the fine was £5 for each pole (about 5meters)
In 1663 the fine had reached £10 for each pole

By 1671 a 5 shilling fine for refusing to help destroy crop

and a £5 fine for resisting for added.

(“The Early English Tobacco Trade” – MacInnes)

At its peak England’s underground tobacco farmers produced a vast quantity of tax free tobacco, they where beaten, killed, jailed but still they carried on growing tobacco. One town Winchcombe became a battle ground on several occasions. The sheriff came inches from death in a battle between solders and local residents protecting there years crop. Over the years scuffles happened all over the country.

With the stricter penalties, being enforced by the army and not local magistrates. The industry had faded to a shadow of its former self by the 1680 and had all but gone by the 1690. In the last 20 years the army was called to assist in the destruction of crops in the following areas.

Yorkshire
Nottinghamshire
Gloucestershire
Oxfordshire
Lincolnshire
Wiltshire
Herefordshire
Worcestershire
Warwickshire
Middlesex
Devonshir
Somerset
Most areas  of London

Tobacco is still grown in the UK but only for personal use. It has been grown commercially since the C17th but never really took off. It is a big hobby, most allotment sites have a few tobacco growers.