Trickster
The Moonrakers
The cheese is in the pond, and so is the brandy.
See it clearly
- What's there
- Town pond
- Legend from
- County tradition
- Best time
- Full moon
- Tone
- Humorous
Brandy under the water, the moon on top. 'Just raking in this cheese, sir.'
Wiltshire people are called Moonrakers, after a story of smugglers who hid barrels of French brandy in a village pond. Caught by the revenue men while fishing them out at night, they pointed at the moon's reflection and said they were raking in a round cheese. The excisemen rode off laughing at the simple yokels, who had the last laugh. Many places claim the tale; BBC Wiltshire sets it at the Crammer pond in Devizes. Anyone born and bred in the county may claim the name.