Editing Beith (section)

===Smugglers===
Beith has a historical connection to [[smuggling]] and built a reputation during the 18th century as being a town which harboured those whose intentions were not always lawful. In 1733 forty or fifty Beith smugglers sacked the [[Irvine, North Ayrshire|Irvine]] Customs House, escaping with a rich booty of confiscated contraband goods<ref name="S1_Beith_Witherspoon">{{cite web|url=http://www.s1beith.com/area/beith-bygones.html|title=Jobs in Scotland on s1jobs.com, the number 1 Scottish job site|url-status = usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090713040412/http://www.s1beith.com/area/beith-bygones.html|archive-date=2009-07-13}}</ref> and by 1789 a company of 76 soldiers were quartered in the town dealing with the continuing illicit trade in tea, tobacco, and spirits. This caused great inconvenience to the law-abiding citizens on whom the soldiers were billeted. The town was policed in this fashion for some time thereafter. Hence, the Main Street's popular public house is still called the Smugglers Tavern, recalling the days when Beith's location between the coast and [[Paisley, Renfrewshire|Paisley]] and [[Glasgow]], made it a convenient stopping off point for those involved in nefarious activities.

A possible relic of the smuggling days of Beith is the [[ley tunnel]] that is said to run from Eglinton Street to Kilbirnie Loch.