 Henry VI granted that lands of Chichester Cathedral should be exempt from the "Court of the Admiralty" in the manner of wrecks, which meant in effect that any wrecks off Selsey Bill would be the bishop's property.In the 18th century, members of a notorious smuggling gang were captured and tried for the brutal murder of a supposed informant and a customs official, Chater and Galley.Seven were condemned to death at the assizes held at Chichester in 1749 and, after they had been executed at the Broyle, Chichester, two of them were subsequently hung in chains at Selsey Bill, a "Yeakel and Gardner" map has a "Gibbet Field" marked on it where it is believed the smugglers hung.