"SIDMOUTH. - Smuggling. - At an early hour on the 4th inst, there was a considerable quantity of illicit foreign brandy landed between Sidmouth and Salcombe coast guard stations, which appears to have been done in a cool and business-like manner, as it has been clearly ascertained that the smugglers brought their waggons convenient to the place of landing, and fed their horses prior to their departure.
"When the occurence came to the knowledge of the coast guard they went in pursuit, but without success."
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It's impossible to resist blogging a report on smugglers even when it is as brief and unsatisfactory as this from The Western Times of 12th March 1842.
By Salcombe is meant Salcombe Regis. The Salcombe coastguard station was farther to the East at Weston Mouth. I guess the waggons brought to a place convenient to the place of landing must have used the old quarry track above Southcombe Farm but, wherever, the brandy must still have been worked up the cliff.
Why is waggon a so much more satisfying word than wagon?
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