Owling facts for kids

Owling was a term for illegally moving sheep or wool from England to other countries, especially France. This practice was against the law in England from 1367 until 1824. People who did this were called "owlers," and their ships were known as "owling boats."

What Was Owling?

Owling was a type of smuggling. It involved secretly taking valuable wool or live sheep out of England. This was illegal because the English government wanted to keep its wool trade strong at home.

Why Was Owling Illegal?

The main reason for the law was to protect England's own businesses. England had a lot of wool, but its factories that made cloth were not as strong as those in other countries. By keeping the wool in England, the government hoped to help its own cloth makers.

Protecting England's Wool Trade

In the late 1100s and early 1200s, the wool industry was very profitable for England. Some historians say that wool was England's most important export at that time. The laws against owling were meant to make sure England's wool stayed in the country.

A King's Grudge

King Edward III first made the law against owling. He and later rulers kept the law partly because of a long-standing rivalry with France. The original law became stricter over time. For example, in 1566, owling could lead to very severe physical penalties. By 1660, if a ship was used for owling, it could be taken away by the government.

How Did Owling Get Its Name?

The exact origin of the word "owling" is not fully clear. It seems to have appeared in the late 1600s, long after the practice became illegal. People believe it came from the fact that owlers often did their illegal work at night, just like owls. The first time the word "owling" was written down was in 1699. Before that, the illegal wool trade didn't have a specific name.

The Rise of Smuggling

The law against owling became very important after 1689. That year, a new law banned all trade with France. This created a big illegal market, also known as a black market. Smuggling wool increased very quickly during the 1690s.

Owlers and the Black Market

Historians say that by 1689, about 480,000 pounds of wool were being smuggled to France each year. Owlers took advantage of the high demand for English wool in France. This made the illegal trade very profitable for them.

Stopping the Smugglers

The main place where owlers left England was Romney Marsh. In 1693, soldiers were sent there to stop the smuggling. The conflict between owlers and local people who opposed them became very serious. It led to a riot in Rye, East Sussex, in 1696. After this, the government started to gain control. Owling became much less common by the time the law was finally removed in the 1800s.