In the 18th century smuggling was a popular activity along the south coast of England. The cottage behind this one belonged to the coastguard whose job it was to stop the smugglers from landing their goods. On one occasion the coastguard cutter shot at a smugglers boat but didn't hit the target, the ball narrowly missed the roof of his own cottage and instead demolished the roof of his neighbours one. Ever since then it has been called "Smugglers Cottage".