Described in 1565 as a a very proper town, well furnished with good mariners, where commonly tall ships do ridea , Leigh had close associations with the Royal Navy during its heyday, and among its many notable personalities, William Branda s tablet in the old church records his command of the Revenge at Trafalgar. As its shipbuilding industry declined, the town became known for oysters and smuggling. Rapid developments followed the arrival of the railway and much of the old town was destroyed, but some old inns and cockle sheds remain to provide a tourist attraction. This welcome book balances the history of the farmlands, woodlands and urban growth with that of the seafarers.