Since I was born in Weymouth.I had thought that the Smugglers were only in Christchurch. Well I was wrong again. FROM <WEYMOUTH.HERE-ON-THE-.NET> Many seemingly pillars of the communty such as Vicars,Lords of the Manors,and others Believed Smuggling to be "free-trade" A little humor.I say.? In the Words of Rudyard Kipling If you Wake at Midnight,and hear a Horses Hoof, Don't draw back the blind,or look into the street, Them that asks no questions, Isn't told a lie, Watch the Wall my Darling,While the gentlemen go By, Five and Twenty ponies, Trotting through the dark, Brandy for the Parson,Baccy for the Clerk, Laces for the Lady,Letters for the Spy, And watch the Wall my Darling,While the Gentlemen go By., Coastguards were employed by the crown to patrol the coastline.Watching for attempts to evade, duty payable to the Crown.Lace,Silk,Velvet,Spirits,and various other Luxary Goods were Smuggled.into England and the Channel Islands. One local smuggling gang,in operation from Weymouth to Lulworth Cove.and the Island of Purebeck.became notorious.Emmanuel Charles,landlord of the Crown Inn in Osmington Mills.was a gang ringleader.The Champ and Seaward families all were in coherts with each other.Emmanuel,Is a folklore hero.He and his wife the former Elizabeth Hardy built the Smugglers Inn,and then Emmanuel was pressganged into serving in the Napolanic War. Emmanuel and family worked the Vessel "Integrity" The vessel was captured.Emmanuel became very weathy.He built Radipole House on the banks of the Backwater [Radipole Lake] In 1851 lke most criminals he was impoverished and died soon after.27 members of his family were convicted of smuggling. My Head family of Christchurch seem ordinary. keep on-keeping on-never quit. Roger

I was trying to remember who wrote the poem that contained the phrase "watch the wall my darling while the gentlemen go by". Thank you for solving my problem. Christchurch and area was an important locality for smugglers, especially in the Mudeford area and it was alleged that the Priory Church had tunnels leading to the coast. My relatives used to visit "Ye Old Eight Bells" a pub in Church Street Christchurch. The roof of the pub and adjacent properties was completely open which enabled the smugglers to escape when necessary. I know that some of my "Cutlers" were on the wrong side of the law, but have not found any reference to them in any publications. Someone once told me that the reason I cannot find reference to them is that they were never caught! Marie Dear Ancestor, the place you filled one hundred years ago, spreads out among the ones you left who would have loved you so. I wonder if you lived and loved, I wonder if you knew that someday I would find that spot and come to visit you.