Last Sunday was brought to the custom house at Woodbridge-80 half ankers of Geneva which was taken by the Bawdsey ferry officials out of a ditch near Waldringfield.
The River Deben that laps at the doorstep of Woodbridge was well-used by the smuggling fraternity, though not always with complete success: at Woodbridge Haven in 1739 a smuggler’s cutter was stranded by the tide and the preventive services were able to seize brandy and tea. With extraordinary cheek, the smugglers not only raised affidavits for the recovery of their goods, but also contrived to have the master of the grounded cutter that they were using to ferry in the goods press-ganged into serving on HMS Boyne. This of course prevented him testifying against the smugglers. Today Woodbridge’s most notable feature is its tide mill — the last British example in working order. It dates from the 12th century, ceased commercial working in 1957 and was fully restored in 1982. Martlesham Creek, just a couple of mile away From Woodbridge, was used as a waterway for transport of small boat-loads of contraband. Phillip Meadows, rector of Great Bealings, was reputed to have cooperated with the smugglers [249] by leaving his stables unlocked, with the chaise and harness ready. Since the owner of the chaise was so well respected locally — and effectively above suspicion — the smugglers were thus able to travel around the district quite freely, and used the chaise to collect cargoes ferried up Martlesham Creek.
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The River Deben that laps at the doorstep of Woodbridge was well-used by the smuggling fraternity, though not always with complete success: at Woodbridge Haven in 1739 a smuggler’s cutter was stranded by the tide and the preventive services were able to seize brandy and tea. With extraordinary cheek, the smugglers not only raised affidavits for the recovery of their goods, but also contrived to have the master of the grounded cutter that they were using to ferry in the goods press-ganged into serving on HMS Boyne. This of course prevented him testifying against the smugglers.
Today Woodbridge’s most notable feature is its tide mill — the last British example in working order. It dates from the 12th century, ceased commercial working in 1957 and was fully restored in 1982.
Martlesham Creek, just a couple of mile away From Woodbridge, was used as a waterway for transport of small boat-loads of contraband. Phillip Meadows, rector of Great Bealings, was reputed to have cooperated with the smugglers [249] by leaving his stables unlocked, with the chaise and harness ready. Since the owner of the chaise was so well respected locally — and effectively above suspicion — the smugglers were thus able to travel around the district quite freely, and used the chaise to collect cargoes ferried up Martlesham Creek.