The team are in Alfriston, East Sussex, hunting for vintage contraband. Today Alfriston is a picture postcard pretty village, but it was once the centre of the infamous Sussex badlands. Our pair’s journey back in time takes in some unexpected finds along the way, among them butcher’s bones, ossified poo and artefacts dating from before Stonehenge.
As they dig down below the 20th-century concrete in the beer garden, the team begin to turn up piece after piece of Victorian junk, revealing the life of the 19th-century inhabitants. There are farmed oyster shells, simple pottery and sawn bone – evidence of butchery, the day job of a famous local smuggler, Stanton Collins. However, there is no smuggler’s loot. So they turn to examining the building itself. Tales of custom-built escape routes for smugglers to evade customs officers abound, so the team scour the architecture for evidence.
In the beer garden, the team make a discovery under the cobbles. Is the tales of smugglers’ tunnels are true? Perhaps they have found an entrance...
Comments (11)
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1 year ago
Richard G
have been a long time fan of time team and wasn't expecting too much of this but actually its really good!
1 year ago
Teresa Taylor
Thanks to Rory and the whole team. A really interesting programme, which I had an added interest in as one of my ancestors was a member of "The Alfriston Gang".
1 year ago
John
Would like to thank Rory McGrath for the free advertising of my van, the messages keep coming
1 year ago
jan
is this programme with rory mcgrath in, in east sussex due to be shown again, like the first programme was
1 year ago
jan
is this programme with rory mcgrath in, in east sussex due to be shown again, like the first programme was
1 year ago
kevin
To Babs Nye, Clifff says to send you thanks, I remember you and Terry well from all those years ago,hope life is treating you well...
1 year ago
Barbara Nye
Babs Nye -Formerly of The George Inn. Well done Cliff great that you are doing your bit for dear old Alfriston. Great programme.
1 year ago
cath
my brother has a beer token found that was my great grandads a great find for the family
1 year ago
Steve McCombe
A great idea and an informative programme. Faster moving than Time Team and with more humour.
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