The Cat House - Chris Fuller, October 2002

Graham Forster sent in this information he found on the Royal Harwich Yacht Club's Web site to Peter's site:

"Adjacent to the club house is a small cottage, painted white, known as the Cat House. It earned this name in the 18th century when smuggling was a way of life for almost the entire population of the villages bordering the Orwell. The then owners of the cottage were the fond possessors of a fine white cat. In due time the feline died and was stuffed, and, no doubt, continued to be much admired. Even more so when a use was found for him. Whenever the coast was clear of Excise men he was placed in the window of the cottage and the smugglers knew they could shift their contraband without having to look over their shoulders.

One of the last recorded captures by the Excise men was of the Ipswich Yawl "Daisy" at Levington Creek in 1817. Forty- eight tubs of spirit were found aboard and the owners' protestations that he had trawled them up out of the sea off Languard Point fell on deaf ears. It is worth mentioning here that the novel "Margaret Catchpole" by Richard Cobbold would come wonderfully alive for anyone who has sailed these waters and is interested in the days of free trading when so much smuggling took place."