Salem Chapel in East Budleigh held an open day last weekend, where visitors could see the secret smuggling passages and hear stories.

The event occurred on Saturday and Sunday (September 14 to 15) from 2pm to 4pm. Stories about smuggling stories where told from the secret passages where the contraband arrived in the dead of night, to the concealed store in the chapel roof, to the characters who ran the smuggling – the Lord, the vicar and the smuggling sailors.

The talks were organised by Mariia Malinski on the part that it played.  It's past was very colourful with a roof used as a lookout tower and contraband stored in its cellars.  There is also evidence of a tunnel from the Chapel to All Saints Church, the Vicars were also involved. 

Thanks to Peter Bowler who went along to the Open Day on Saturday, and sent these pictures to the Journal.