Historicaleigh: The Hidden Chamber

January 31, 2017 by Carole Mulroney

In 1935 Mr Otto Vogelsang, who carried out a marine engineering business in disused cottages near the cockle sheds, found a cellar below the sea level in the cottages, obviously used for smuggling. After stripping off about 12 layers of wallpaper near the entrance, he discovered oak panelling covering the entire walls of the room thought to be over 300 years old.

A month later Mr Vogelsang found a concealed cupboard behind the panelling. In the cellar under the stairs he found two cannon balls and a commemorative medal of the death of Nelson bearing the names of his victories and the date of Trafalgar.

Although no sailors from Leigh are listed in the Trafalgar Rolls, Golden Thompson of Leigh, who had been press ganged twice, may have been involved on a bomb ship that supported the fleet - so did he bring back a couple of souvenirs?