What especially impressed his contemporaries, though, was that he put money in their pockets. His barge The Good Intent, brought up “beach” – a mixture of sea-pounded chalk, sand and gravel much use around Hailsham for road repairs and building – at a considerably lower cost than it could be hauled by heavy wagons lumbering along atrocious country lanes. It also cheapened the transport of goods round the South Cliff headland from Seaford to Newhaven. It was for this economic benefit conferred that he received the supreme accolade of public esteem: a pub in Hailsham was named after his barge. It is now a tea-shop.

John Lower was not the only person to exploit the commercial potential of Cuckmere Haven. A Sussex newspaper in 1783 reported:

“Sept 18: There is a most convenient port, about a mile from Seaford, for smugglers to land their goods, and so daring are they become, that a dozen or more cutters may frequently be seen laying to in open day. On Tuesday evening, between two and three hundred smugglers on horseback came to Cuckmere and received various kinds of goods from the boats, ‘till at least the whole number were laden, when, in defiance of the King’s officers, they went their way in triumph. About a week before this, upwards of three hundred attended at the same place; and though the sea ran mountains high, the daring men in the cutters made good the landing to the surprise of everybody, and the men on horseback took all away.”

Was John Lower ever involved with the smugglers? At least half the population of 18^th century Sussex were, directly or indirectly, passively or actively, and modern guidebooks to Alfriston, with tourists in mind, make a particular emphasis on the village’s smuggling associations. Strangely though, not one 18^th century source – such as complaints about or reports on smuggling – ever mention either Alfriston or any of its inhabitants. The explanation lies, probably, in the word “discreetly”. Excise Officer Thomas Hays lived in the village itself – “The King’s Ganger” they called him. Probably, like most 18^th century officials, he could be persuaded to turn a blind eye if it were made worth his while and as long as whatever was done, was done discreetly. John Lower was a man constantly up and down the river, in and out of the Haven, on legitimate business. That would have made an excellent cover for smuggling; but even if it never was so used, his advice alone – on such matters, for instance, as tides, shifting banks and the observed movements of Revenue men – would probably have been worth the occasional tub left outside his house, by night, discreetly. But like all other Alfristoners, if he did receive a share of “run” tea or French brandy, he managed it without drawing Authority’s attention to the fact.