The village of Great Clacton was founded by the Celts around 100BC, and there is evidence to suggest the area was the headquarters of smugglers between 1645 - 1832. Many tunnels are said to be under Great Clacton. One of these runs from Eaglehurst in Valley Road, and others are said to run from the Church to St John's square, Geddy Hall and local pubs.
The heyday of smuggling in the Clacton area was in the 18th century, before prevention had really gathered momentum, but goods continued to be landed openly and in daylight until well into the 19th century. There was good access to the shore, especially via Holland Gap, making it easy to assemble a large and mobile force of men on the beach to unload the goods. Though the runs themselves were largely unopposed, the local preventive officers nevertheless succeeded in recovering some of the contraband — particularly if it had been hidden nearby or buried. Some of the discoveries were involuntary: in 1721, the ground gave way under the feet of customs officer D'Oyley, revealing a cache of 19 half ankers of Brandy.
The smugglers seem to have enjoyed genuine partnership and cooperation with the farmers and labourers along the coast here — in stark contrast to the intimidation and coercion that was needed to extract 'cooperation' on some other coasts. A story from Great Holland illustrates the way the relationship worked: the farmer was fond of a drop of gin, and a party of London smugglers who worked the area were happy to supply his tipple. He simply asked them to 'leave the lane gate locked' as a signal that his barrel was running low. In return for this kindness, the farmer provided stabling and feed for the smugglers' 15 horses.
Payment in goods was the rule — on another occasion labourers working on the sea wall at Christmas time received gin as a reward for helping smugglers land a cargo. The payment was clearly more than sufficient, because one of their number fell off a plank bridge into Holland Brook, and his colleagues were so drunk that they had difficulty fishing him out. Unable to carry the poor man home, they simply propped him up against a hay-stack and covered him up: he froze to death in the cold December night.
One Clacton smuggler prospered more than most. George Wegg the Elder was outwardly a very respectable figure, but was reputed to have made much of his substantial fortune as a smuggler .He owned a house next to the Pub in Great Clacton, called simply Wegg's House. In 1870, renovation to this building revealed enormous cellars, with a concealed entrance reached from a brick kitchen. These cellars would have been used storing the contraband brought from George Wegg's boats, which were met at The Black Grounds, Sea Lane, or The Haven. There were other depots pending onward movement to Colchester, at Rill Cottage, and at Dawson's. In the Colchester area, Wegg owned: Jaywick, a farm; Cross House; Millers, and East Hill House.
Wegg's house is now called Eaglehurst and has udergone a number of transformations since it's use a private dwelling. The latest of which was as a residential care home, and the cache is located down the alleyway to the side of this building.
Suggested parking places are in Windmill Park, or in Great Clacton car park which is currently free to park in. You can cross Valley Road to reach the cache from here, but this road can be very busy so please take care. If you use the car park there is a Church Micro nearby. If you use Windmill Park, please try not to obstruct the local residents and their properties. You are looking for a cache containing log sheet only so please bring a pen.