Gunsgreen House
A Splendid Palace Built by a Smuggler
The house was specially adapted for his ‘special requirements’. The large cellars lead direct to the sea to receive their illegal overseas deliveries. Goods such as brandy and tobacco were highly taxed by the British government to raise money for their war chest. Tea was taxed particularly highly, at 119%, and it was this that Nisbet made most of his money from. The house was equipped with secret ‘tea chute’ behind the walls where the loose tea was stored away from prying eyes.
Goods came into Scotland from Europe as far away as Sweden, where tea came via Scottish merchants John Sibbald and Henry Greig, Scottish Merchants in Gothenburg. This was totally against the law. All tea had to come directly from China.
gunsgreenhouse.org
Website:https://gunsgreenhouse.org/
