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All the United Kingdom Northern Ireland Whitehead Whitehead Boathouse

Whitehead Boathouse

The base for the battle against the smugglers of Islandmagee.

Whitehead, Northern Ireland

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Nicholas Davis
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The front of the boathouse today   TownTactics / Atlas Obscura User
Photo of the boathouse in its original form   TownTactics / Atlas Obscura User
Path down to the boathouse   TownTactics / Atlas Obscura User
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About

In the seaside County Antrim village of Whitehead, Northern Ireland, the Coastguard have always had saving lives and preventing smuggling on their minds. In fact, when the Coastguard service was first established in the 1820s, smuggling was its highest priority, because the illegal practice had become a major source of lost revenues for the country. And the Islandmagee peninsula where Whitehead resides had become a haven for smugglers.

After many years operating from thatched cottages in the village, it was decided that the Coastguard presence there required a permanent base. In 1869, the Coastguard bought some land, and then built a boathouse in 1871. Today, it is one of the oldest standing Coastguard buildings left in Northern Ireland, and is a listed and protected building.

The building itself has been refurbished and renovated multiple times, but originally it had defensive adaptations such as gun turrets, pistol holes, and even metal, bulletproof window shields—which is some indication of the tactics of the smuggling gangs in the area. The building is now used as a storage shed by the local County Antrim Yacht Club, but it is still fondly remembered as the the base that fought against the smugglers of Islandmagee. 

Related Tags

Boats Crime

Know Before You Go

The old Boathouse of Whitehead is located along Beach Road opposite the Whitehead Train Station, and before the Beach Road Nature Reserve. A tunnel that runs underneath the railway line to the County Antrim Yacht Club and Whitehead promenade area. 

 

 

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Added By

TownTactics

Published

August 7, 2020

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Sources
  • https://www.historicalpicturearchive.com/shop/pictures/am-00149/
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitehead,_County_Antrim
  • https://www.midandeastantrim.gov.uk/downloads/whitehead-walk-leaflet.pdf
  • https://niviews.com/tag/smuggling/
  • https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05g6jmb/p05g6rng
  • https://www.larnetimes.co.uk/news/islandmagees-reputation-haven-smugglers-bygone-centuries-2087055
Whitehead Boathouse
6 Beach Rd
Whitehead, Northern Ireland, BT38 9QS
United Kingdom
54.749951, -5.709725
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Victorian Walkway

Whitehead, Northern Ireland

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Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Whitehead

Whitehead

Northern Ireland

Places 8

Nearby Places

Victorian Walkway

Whitehead, Northern Ireland

miles away

The Gallery Whitehead

Whitehead, Northern Ireland

miles away

Castle Chichester Tower

Whitehead, Northern Ireland

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Whitehead

Whitehead

Northern Ireland

Places 8

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